A 60-YEAR-OLD local Catholic priest has been charged with five historic child abuse offences.
The man, who cannot be named until his court appearance, met the victim through church-related activities in the Peel district between 1983 and 1986.
It is alleged the man "abused his position of authority" and forced the victim, then aged between 15-17 years of age, to perform indecent and sexual acts.
The man has been charged with four counts of unlawful and indecent assault and two subsequent abuse charges after an investigation by Child Abuse Squad detectives.
Some of the offences are also believed to have occurred in the North West Metropolitan region.
The man, who is still a Catholic priest, will appear in Rockingham Magistrates Court on October 24.
Police have asked for any victims of child abuse, or those that have information about someone
being abused, to call 131 444.
