McKenna denies WA child sex abuse claims

Convicted serial pedophile Dennis McKenna has denied giving a boy in his care alcohol, showing him pornographic films and sexually abusing him more than 30 years ago.

McKenna, 70, is on trial in the West Australian District Court charged with two counts of indecently assaulting a teenager when he was the warden at St Andrews Hostel in Katanning in 1981 and 1982.

The complainant previously testified that McKenna placed the boy's hand over his underwear while chatting to a group of students and on another occasion invited the teenager to his flat where he masturbated him.

But on Tuesday, McKenna, who is currently serving time behind bars, took the stand to deny both allegations.

McKenna also denied ever giving the complainant alcohol or showing him pornographic films, but said the boy was part of a group of students who would watch films at his flat such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Under cross examination, McKenna admitted showing pornographic films to other boys but said the complainant was not part of it.

"He was in years eight and nine in that period. They were too young," McKenna said.

But prosecutor Bernard Standish mentioned that McKenna was convicted of abusing another boy who was the same age as the complainant and that that child was shown pornographic films.

McKenna conceded it had happened, saying: "I pleaded guilty to what I did."

The complainant also testified that after graduating he worked at the hostel for six months and travelled overseas with McKenna, sleeping in a twin-share room with him, but there was no sexual offending.

He said McKenna had stopped abusing him and as a child "from nowhere" he did not want to miss a chance to go on an overseas holiday.

McKenna testified that he had originally planned to go on a holiday with a friend but they pulled out and he was going to lose his money so the complainant got permission from his parents to join him.

The trial continues.