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	Elderly Paedophile Seeks Lenient Sentence ABC [Australia] March 17, 2006 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1594578.htm The lawyer for a Catholic priest convicted of sex offences has asked a judge in the Hobart Criminal Court not to impose a crushing sentence on his elderly client. Roger Michael Bellemore, 70, was found guilty of maintaining a sexual relationship with four young boys. Bellemore abused the boys while working as a priest and teacher at Burnie's Marist College in the late 1960s and early 1970s . Bellemore's lawyer Greg Walsh said while his client's actions were a serious breach of trust, it was not the worst case of its kind to come before the court. Mr Walsh presented to the judge testimonials from teachers, students and religious members that he said demonstrated the exemplary life Bellemore had lived for the past 40 years. He asked the judge to take into account Bellemore's age, poor health and the conditions he will live under at Risdon prison as a sex offender and Catholic priest. Bellemore will be sentenced later this month.
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