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| Former bishop Peter Ball admits sex offences | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | He had failed in a bid to get his case thrown out on the word of a former Archbishop of Canterbury. |
| 'Bishop in the dock' | |
| It was argued Ball and Lord George Carey had been assured in 1993 that there would be no future action over the allegations. | 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. | 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. | |
| 'Used position to manipulate' | |
| 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. | |
| Ball will be sentenced on 7 October. |