A SICK former priest, who was jailed this month for a string of sex attacks on young boys, allegedly tried to rape another child in an Irvine church.

The man, now 51, said Father Francis Paul Moore tried to sexually assault him in St Margaret’s Church in Castlepark.

He further claims that when he told police about the incident he was forced to apologise to the sex beast because he had punched him in the stomach to escape his grasp.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, says the incident occurred when he had visited the church with his cousin who had been locked in an office with Moore, now 82.

He said after he banged on the door to help his cousin, the perverted priest pounced and he knew he was going to be his next victim.

He said: “He’s perverted, pathetic and a monster. I was going to be his victim but I got out.

He said: “I shouted ‘I want my cousin,’ and he said, ‘Get out’ and then came out.

“He pinned me against the wall with his belly pressing up against me, I was only 11 but I could tell what was next.

“I punched him in the gut and he fell backwards so I managed to get out of there.”

The alleged victim then claims the shamed priest set a gang of older boys on him who beat him up and then he was targeted at school for trying to expose the sick cleric.

He told a national newspaper: “I walked to the police station to try and expose him but they said, ‘What do you want us to do about it?’.

“I had to apologise and he phoned my school and I got the belt every morning for a month.”

Former priest Moore was jailed earlier this month after it was revealed he terrorised youngsters for decades, subjecting them to horrific sexual abuse.

Moore abused one of the boys at St Mark’s Primary School in Irvine, another at the Magnum Leisure Centre and the third at Irvine Beach 40 years ago.

He was convicted this month of sexual assaults on three young boys – one as young as five – and a trainee priest.

Judge Lady Rae told the priest: “Mr Moore you have abused your position as a priest in the most horrible manner.

“You have been convicted of, particularly in relation to the young children, appalling abuse.

“The damage such conduct does to young people is immeasurable.”

Moore will be sentenced next month.