Playboy paedophile priest 'Don Mercedes' pays out €125k to families of abuse victims in Italy

Disgraced paedophile priest Mauro Inzoli has agreed to pay out a sum of €125k to the victims of his child sex offences and their families as he awaits trail for the abuse of five minors. Inzoli has agreed to pay €25k to each of the individuals, aged between 10 and 16-years-old.

He was defrocked in 2012 but was later, controversially, welcomed back to the priesthood and told to live a life of prayer and humble discretion in 2014, The Local.it reported.

The defrocked clergyman earned a reputation for his lavish tastes before criminal proceedings were initiated against him. Referred to as "Don Mercedes," the priest named the Roman elite among his congregation and enjoyed the finer things in life.

The 66-year-old was known for his taste in expensive cars, cigars and restaurants.

The decision by Pope Francis to reinstate Inzoli was met with a public outcry in in the northern Italian town of Cremona, where the abuse took place.

Repeated refusals by the church to hand over details of its investigation and perceived leniency provoked criminal proceedings to be mounted against him.

The priest's trial is due to begin in June. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.