UNITED KINGDOM
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A former care home worker and Catholic priest who sexually assaulted vulnerable children in his care made “malicious and false” allegations about his victims to cover up his own horrific abuse, a court heard.

Philip Temple, 67, sexually abused 12 young people over a 25-year period beginning in 1971 while he was employed at children’s homes in Croydon and Wandsworth, and later as a priest in north London.

Between 1971 and 1977 Temple, of no fixed address, worked first at Woking Close children’s home in Barnes, then at nearby Hartfield House, before moving to Shirley Oaks Children’s Home, where he worked as a senior housefather at Rowan House.

Over those six years he “used his position of authority for his own pleasure” to abuse nine boys and one girl, Woolwich Crown Court heard today.

After carrying out his horrific assaults, which made one…