The former Abbot of Buckfast Abbey was jailed yesterday for abusing young boys when he taught Latin at its preparatory school.

William Manahan, 80, was sent to prison for the offences committed over a period of eight years in the 1980s. Manahan resigned his post of Abbot at the Benedictine monastery in Devon when he was arrested earlier this month. He is believed to be the most senior Roman Catholic clergyman to be convicted of sexual offences against children.

Exeter Crown Court was told that Manahan would encourage boys with “angelic faces” to sit on his lap during lessons. He touched boys behind the cover of his desk or when his movements were hidden by his cassock, and bought their silence with sweets.

Manahan admitted eight charges of indecent assault on boys aged between 7 and 13 over an eight-year period when he held the post of Prior.

Judge John Neligan jailed him for 15 months. He said: “These boys were too young and innocent and, I dare say, bewildered to complain at the time but it is equally clear you assaulted them in a shamefully indecent manner. This breach of trust was so serious that it must receive a custodial sentence. The message must go out that those in a position of trust in schools must expect to go to prison if they prey sexually on children in their care.” He said that Manahan had also damaged the reputation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Manahan was banned from working with or having unsupervised contact with children but will still be allowed to attend Mass.

Ian Fenny, for the prosecution, said that Manahan became a priest at the age of 18 and spent his adult life at the abbey, becoming a Latin and English teacher when it started a prep school.He fondled the boy boarders after calling them out in class to sit on his knee or while they sat on his lap watching television at night. Many were vulnerable because their families were in the Services and posted overseas. The boys knew him as Daddy Prior but were suspicious that he made favourites of prettier boys.

Martin Meeke, QC, for the defence, said that Manahan realised that what he was doing was wrong and stopped abusing boys. He said: “He resigned as Abbot and nothing this court can impose can match the loss of his position or the disgrace which comes with it.”

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