A Catholic priest will spend at least 11 months behind bars after being convicted of abusing a West Australian teenager more than 30 years ago.
Glenn Humphreys, 61, was found guilty of abusing a boy between 1983 and 1986 when the boy was aged 15 to 17.
A District Court jury found Humphreys guilty of four counts of unlawful and indecent assault, but acquitted him of carnal knowledge against the order of nature.
During sentencing submissions on Wednesday, defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty argued there was an "immature context" to the offending rather than any form of grooming.
Mr Rafferty said his client was struggling with his sexuality at the time and there was an "adolescent quality" to the hugging and touching that made the case "exceptional".
"There clearly was a fondness between these two people," he said.
Mr Rafferty said his client was "deeply remorseful" and had engaged in rehabilitation, which Judge Philip Eaton accepted.
Judge Eaton also accepted that Humphreys was a low-risk of re-offending but said the pair formed a "grossly inappropriate" relationship and general deterrence was important.
He sentenced Humphreys to 22 months in prison, with a minimum of 11 months before he will be eligible for parole.
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