Paedophile monk admits abusing boys

Aperverted monk who fought extradition from Australia has admitted sexually abusing two former pupils at a feepaying Highland school more than 40 years ago.

Denis Alexander, 85, preyed on the schoolboys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, while teaching history at Fort Augustus Abbey School in the 1970s.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Friday how Alexander targeted the young men in his study and during yoga classes.

Judge Lord Burns heard how Alexander, who was a monk with the Benedictine Order, later left Scotland and became a priest in Sydney, Australia.

But he was brought to justice after a BBC documentary called The Sins of our Father was aired in 2013.

Alexander’s victims saw the show and plucked up enough courage to contact police who requested his extradition back from the country.

The cleric initially fought attempts to bring him back to Scotland. But he was returned almost three years after the extradition request was sent to Australia.

Now Alexander has been brought to justice after pleading guilty to two charges of sexual assault.

Prosecutor Jane Farquharson QC told Lord Burns that Alexander’s offending represents a small part of the sexual abuse of the children who attended the school, which closed in 1993.

Ms Farquharson said: “These offences committed by this accused Denis Alexander are a snapshot of what is believed to be wider systemic abuse of children within the Fort Augustus Abbey School and its preparatory school Carlekemp, also run by the Benedictine Order.”

Alexander observed proceedings sat in a wheelchair in court with his head bowed. He has poor hearing and his lawyer instructed him to tell him if he couldn’t follow proceedings.

Alexander was known as Father Chrysotum when he was teaching at the Fort Augustus school. He also taught bagpipes.

The court heard that Alexander’s first victim is now 60 years old. He was aged around 13 years old when Alexander summoned him to his study and ordered him to sit down.

Alexander “pushed” his hand down the boy’s trousers and started to touch him. After the abuse finished, the man did not tell anybody what happened until he saw the BBC programme.

Alexander’s second victim is now aged 58. He was abused after Alexander asked him to join a yoga group.

The court heard the man was aged around 12 to 13 at the time of the abuse.

The court heard that on another occasion, Alexander preyed on the boy during another yoga class and forced him to perform a sex act on him.

Lord Burns deferred sentence on the first offender until next month for the court to obtain background reports.

GUILTY: Denis Alexander taught history at Fort Augustus Abbey school in the 1970s.