Former bishop Peter Ball admits sex offences

BBC News
September 8, 2015

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-34184967

Peter Ball served as Bishop of Lewes and Bishop of Gloucester until 1993

A former bishop has admitted sexually assaulting two young men in the 1980s and 1990s.

Peter Ball, 83, former Bishop of Lewes and Bishop of Gloucester, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault at the Old Bailey.

He also admitted misconduct in a public office between 1977 and 1992.

Ball faced allegations of abusing boys and young men in Litlington, East Sussex, after a review by the Church of England in 2012 prompted police action.

He had failed in a bid to get his case thrown out on the word of a former Archbishop of Canterbury.

It was argued Ball and Lord George Carey had been assured in 1993 that there would be no future action over the allegations.

But Mr Justice Sweeney refused to dismiss the case earlier this year.

The court was told the church avoided scandal in 1993 when Ball accepted a caution for a single allegation of gross indecency and resigned, despite Gloucester Police being aware of allegations from two more men.

Ball's lawyer, Richard Smith QC, suggested the Crown Prosecution Service may have settled on the caution to avoid the publicity of a bishop in the dock.

The court heard Lord Carey also sought assurances the case was closed.

But allegations resurfaced when the Diocese of Bath and Wells reviewed the cases, prompting Sussex Police to reopen the investigation.

The Sussex force later charged him with misconduct and a string of sex offences.

Ball, who has suffered ill health but was deemed fit to stand trial, pleaded guilty to the charges weeks before his trial was due to start.

Appearing via video link from Taunton, near his home in Langport, Somerset, Ball admitted assaulting two victims between 1980 and 1983 and between 1990 and 1991.

He denied two other counts of indecently assaulting boys - one aged 12 or 13 and the other aged 15 - which will lie on file.

According to the charge, Ball committed misconduct by "misusing his position in authority to manipulate and prevail upon others for his own sexual gratification."

Details of the history leading to the former clergyman being charged could only be reported after Mr Justice Wilkie lifted reporting restrictions.

After the hearing, Det Ch Insp Carwyn Hughes said Ball systematically abused the trust of his victims, who included aspiring priests.

He said he used religion as a cloak behind which to carry out his grooming activity, in order to satisfy his sexual interest in and desire for young men.

Det Ch Insp Hughes also paid tribute to Ball's victims, who had "a long wait for justice".

Ball will be sentenced on 7 October.