A man who claims he was watched in the shower by a Catholic priest said his mother slapped him when he made the allegation, a court has heard.

Father Tony McSweeney, 68, is currently on trial accused of indecent assaults of young boys in the 1970s and 1980s and possessing indecent images of children.

From yesterday: Grafton Close care home abuse trial: Catholic priest's cleaner 'found indecent video'

While it does not form part of the charges against him, a man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleges Mr McSweeney watched him in the shower when he was a 15-year-old at a Scout camp.

Mr McSweeney was involved in the Scout movement in the 1970s and worked as a warden when the alleged incident happened.

The showers were described as “very much open”, with separate cubicles but no doors, which was “normal at that time”.

Speaking from behind a screen at Southwark Crown Court, the man said: “I was in there having a shower.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Yesterday the court heard allegations that John Stingemore (above), who died weeks ago who would have also been on trial , groomed a boy so Father McSweeney could abuse him

"I couldn’t say how long I’d been in there but then I was aware someone was behind me. I looked and there was Mr McSweeney about 10ft behind me looking at me.

“He said ‘don’t forget to wash under the foreskin’. I was young and it kind of freaked me out. If it had been my brother who said that, I would have used a few words.

“I kind of felt freaked out because he was the camp warden. I was there as a volunteer to assist in the campsite. So I suppose in a way he should have looked out for me, not looking at me.

“I was a child and he was an adult.”

The man accepted that because Mr McSweeney was the warden, it was reasonable he would have gone into the shower block to check there was no trouble, but said he did not recall anyone else being in there at the time.

Prosecutor Nick Corsellis asked the man if he spoke to anyone about the alleged incident.

He replied: “I spoke to who I believe was the deputy camp warden who said something along the lines of don’t be stupid. Once I got home I told my mum and she slapped me around the face and said don't be a stupid little boy.”

The man also told the court in the 1980s, he had a calling to priesthood and attended a seminary where Mr McSweeney was at the time.

He said his mother told him to give him a present, so offered him cigarettes.

He told the court: “I wanted to try and deny what had happened because he had been and was very much a fun guy and likeable guy and that is the side I wanted to see.”

But the court heard when he saw Mr McSweeney the seminary, he had a “young person, male” sitting on his lap.

During cross examination, Stephen Spence, defending, said Mr McSweeney had no recollection of the alleged shower incident.

The trial continues.