What I was doing in private was destroying what I did in public - it was my guilty secret

Father Michael O'Kelly

He has been on administrative leave since his arrest on 15 October last year in a joint operation between Thames Valley Police and Customs and Excise.

The priest, who is now living at Horton Hospital in Epsom, Surrey, told interviewing officers he began looking at the child pornography when working as a missionary in Africa.

"Having gained access to the Internet I couldn't control it.

"I was afraid but I followed. I simply did not or could not control it.

"What I was doing in private was destroying what I did in public - it was my guilty secret."

Career over

Father O'Kelly, of previous good character, said he ran up huge phone bills of up to �1,500 a month by accessing the Internet.

He said the images were for "fantasy and masturbation".

In his defence John Francis told the court his client was attending a residential course at the Surrey Hospital forcing him to look at what he had done and to examine his activities.

Mr Francis said the case had been devastating for Father O'Kelly and that his career in the church was now finished forever.

Father O'Kelly was committed for sentence at Reading Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

He was released on unconditional bail.