Pastor Bernard Gawlytta confessed his guilt to churchgoers after a Sunday service and has now been removed from his post.

The 64-year-old pastor, who belonged to the small parish of St Elisabeth in Ballenstedt, Germany, said he had fallen victim to cyber-criminals in the summer.

He claimed that fraudsters on the Internet had persuaded him to send them money and he stole from the church collection fund in order to pay them.

The repentant pastor has now been referred to the police for criminal investigation, the Diocese of Magdeburg said.