A MONK from Ampleforth Abbey is facing jail for years of sexual abuse against boys.

Father Gregory Carroll, 66, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court to 14 sex charges against ten boys, when they were under 15 years old.

He showed no emotion and spoke in a firm voice as the allegations of indecent assault and indecency with a child were put to him.

The offences were all committed between 1973 and 1987, when he worked at Junior House, Ampleforth College, the top Roman Catholic boarding school which is run by the abbey.

After the priest and monk admitted the offences, the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told him: "Custody is inevitable."

He adjourned the case at the request of Carroll's barrister, Nicola Gatto.

She said lawyers wanted a report from a psychiatrist or psychologist on the risk he could pose to boys in the future.

Carroll, who lives at the Benedictine abbey, was released on bail. He made no comment as he left court with friends and supporters, and will return to York Crown Court on September 23 to learn his fate.

He pleaded guilty to 11 charges of indecent assault on boys and three of indecency against boys. Four of the charges - two of indecent assault and two of indecency - involved the same boy between 1979 and 1980, and seven charges of indecent assault involved unknown boys.

James Goss, prosecuting, said these referred to confessions the monk made when seeing a doctor recently. He had said that he had assaulted between ten and 15 boys in total.

Carroll denied six more charges. Three of indecency and indecent assault against three of the boys were left on file, and the prosecution accepted not guilty pleas on the remaining three charges of indecent assault.

A spokesman for the abbey declined to comment after the hearing.

But a statement from the abbey issued on March 14, when Carroll appeared before Scarborough magistrates, said the charges he faced referred to a period between 1973 and 1983, when he was a master at Junior House, Ampleforth College.

The statement also quoted the Abbot of Ampleforth, Father Cuthbert Madden saying: "We consider that the safety and protection of children in our care is a sacred responsibility. Even though these events are alleged to have occurred a quarter of a century ago, the passage of time does nothing to lessen that responsibility."

Updated: 10:33 Friday, July 29, 2005