A FORMER President of the Methodist Church in Ireland yesterday pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to sexually abusing a schoolboy 40 years ago.Kenneth Best (62), of Green Road, Belfast, pleaded guilty to six specific charges of indecent assault between January 1, 1963, and December 31, 1966.
He was 19 when he first sexually abused the teenager, who was then aged 14.
Father-of-two Best, who was head of the Methodist Church from 1996 to 1997, was released on continuing bail after signing the sex offenders' register.
Belfast Recorder Judge Tom Burgess, who asked for a victim impact report and also ordered various pre-sentence reports on Best, said that releasing him on bail, "in no way ties my hands to the eventual disposal of this matter".
Defence QC Eugene Grant said that in addition to the pre-sentence report on Best, who will be sentenced next month for his crime, other reports will be provided.