UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News
A retired bishop who has admitted sex offences against young men, should have faced charges 22 years ago, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has admitted.
The CPS said a caution given to Peter Ball in 1993 was wrong as there was sufficient evidence to prosecute.
However, it said its approach to sexual abuse has changed and such a decision would not be made today.
On Tuesday, Ball, 83, pleaded guilty to 18 charges of sex abuse involving men in the 1970s and 1990s.
He also pleaded guilty to the offence of misconduct in public office between 1977 and 1992.
Ball was Bishop of Lewes between 1977 and 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until his resignation the following year.
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