AUSTRALIA
Sky News

One of Australia’s worst pedophile priests Gerald Ridsdale has admitted to fresh abuse charges against 14 children, including an altar boy he plied with wine before assaulting him.

The former Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to 30 new charges, with the bulk of those indecent assaults.

The charges date back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and involve three girls and 11 boys.

Ridsdale, 79, pleaded guilty to the 30 charges in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

Magistrate Ian Alger struck out another 54 charges.

When Mr Alger asked Ridsdale if he intended to plead guilty to the charges he replied: ‘I really wasn’t prepared for this.