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McKenna guilty of hostel child sex offences

A former warden of the St Andrew's hostel in Katanning has pleaded guilty to more than 30 child sex offences against boarders.

But the mother of one of his victims has told of her disappointment that more than half of the charges against him have been dropped.

Dennis John McKenna appeared in the Perth Magistrate's Court by video link from Acacia prison where he pleaded guilty to 34 child sex offences.

McKenna, the warden of the State-run hostel between 1975 and 1990, was facing 69 charges but 35 of those were dropped this morning after significant negotiations with the Director of Public Prosecution.

Outside court, Kaye Anderson expressed her disappointment that more than half the charges were dropped and said she believed he should never be released from prison.

"I think to save taxpayers and the victims grief, they should throw away the key and lock up him for life," she said.

"I still feel justice hasn't prevailed with him. He's a person that should never be released - spare the victims.

"It's never going to bring back my son and quite a few other victims that have lost their lives... words can't describe him."

Defence lawyer Patti Chong applied for pre-sentence, psychological and psychiatic reports for McKenna ahead of his sentencing in the District Court.

He will be sentenced in the District Court in January.