A novice monk at a Hereford abbey sexually abused schoolboys with whom he came into contact during his training, a jury was told.

John Kinsey allegedly molested two victims while instructing them in bell-ringing and a third who was learning duties as an altar server.

Prosecutor Richard Bond said Kinsey, who later trained in Rome and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1991, launched attacks on a boy as he played a church organ and another who was being taught to swing an incense burner.

He claimed Kinsey "groomed" victims and gave them gifts as "sweeteners" which included £400 to visit him in Rome.

The abuse was said to have taken place between 1986 and 1990 when Kinsey - known as Father John to schoolboys - was based at Belmont Abbey. The complainants, who went to police in 2002, are now in their 30s.

Kinsey, aged 46, of Hotel Waunt y Nant, Whitchurch, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, denies 11 counts of indecent assault and one count of assault with intent to commit buggery.

Mr Bond told Worcester Crown Court yesterday: "When parents entrust the care of their children into the hands of men like the defendant, they believe them to be perfectly safe. This was a gross abuse of trust."

One witness, now aged 33, gave evidence that at 16, when being taught bell-ringing alone by Kinsey, the defendant's closeness made him feel uncomfortable.

He alleged Kinsey then put his hand down his underpants for about a minute. He kept it a secret because he feared being ridiculed.

The witness contacted Belmont Abbey in 2001 after reading about child abuse cases within the Catholic church.

"I believed he was danger to other young people," he said of Kinsey.

Mr Bond said Kinsey "took his chance" with the second victim as the boy swung incense, putting his hand down his trousers and touched his genitals.

He added that during bell-ringing practice Kinsey got the boy to sit on his knee and put his hand inside the boy's underwear.

Mr Bond claimed that last year the complainant contacted Kinsey and told him he had forgiven him for his behaviour.

The third victim was aged 13 and carrying out altar duties in a church sacristy when Kinsey allegedly committed a sexual offence.

Mr Bond said the abuse moved on to other offences and Kinsey took the boy to his parents' home in Wales where he tried to have sex with him but failed.

The last sexual act was said to have happened when a further sexual offence took place in a car parked in a layby.

Kinsey, who is no longer a priest, denied any sexual impropriety after being arrested in June 2003.

He claimed nothing had happened while he was training but said he later met one complainant when he was an adult and they had a short sexual relationship.

The trial continues.