A paedophile vicar who “used God to hide the monster he is” could spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of sexual offences against a fifth victim.

John Roberts was yesterday found guilty of five counts of indecent assault following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, which heard that he “misused the power and authority of his position to carry out acts of sexual abuse” while serving as a priest at St Peter’s Church in St Helens during the 1970s. The now 89-year-old, formerly of Cherry Vale in Woolton, attempted to grope the boy in the vicarage and during a trip away.