A senior Buddhist monk has been found guilty of historical sex offences against six girls at a Melbourne temple.

Warning: This story contains details of alleged sexual assault.

A County Court jury on Thursday ruled Naotunne Vijitha, the head monk at the Dhamma Sarana temple in Keysborough, committed the offences between 1994 and 2002.

The 70-year-old monk was found guilty of eight charges of sexual penetration of a child under 16 and nine charges of committing an indecent act with a child under 16.

The monk was cleared of one indecent act charge. The jury is continuing to deliberate on another charge of indecent act with a child.

The spiritual leader, dressed in orange robes, rested his head in his hands and showed no reaction as the verdicts were delivered on Thursday afternoon.

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