CATHOLIC leaders today defended their decision to fund an appeal by a priest who is serving a five-year prison sentence for sexually abusing young boys at Stonyhurst College.

Jesuit James Chaning-Pearce was convicted at Preston Crown Court on four counts of molesting boys aged between 12 and 16 while a teacher at the top Catholic public school.

And the Society of Jesus today admitted it is funding his appeal against conviction at the same time as one of his four victims is pursuing an action for compensation.

Chaning-Pearce, who is serving his sentence in Uska Prison, South Wales, assaulted the boys in his study and in a treehouse in the grounds of the school.

The 57-year-old, who is still a priest, pleaded guilty to three of the offences, but is appealing his conviction for the fourth.

He came to the top Ribble Valley college in 1987 and taught maths and physics, as well as being responsible for pastoral care.

The Society of Jesus removed Chaning-Pearce from the school in 1995 after receiving a letter alleging similar behaviour by him while working overseas ten years earlier. A spokesman for the Society of Jesus said the organisation had decided to fund Chaning-Pearce's appeal because he had admitted three of the four accusations.

He said: "Like everyone else, he has a right to appeal. He has always disputed the fourth offence, while pleading guilty to the other three. As he has been given leave to appeal the fourth conviction by a High Court judge with misgivings about the case, we have taken the decision to fund the action.

"We accept that some people may be critical of our decision to fund the appeal."

Trial judges ordered Chaning-Pearce's name and address to be entered for life on the national register for sex offenders.

After the trial the Society of Jesus announced that the shamed priest would "never again work with children."

"He is still a priest and will remain a member of the Society of Jesus, but after serving his sentence will never again be in a position to be in contact with young people. As far as we are concerned, he will never again work with children," a spokesman said.

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