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Former bishop Peter Ball admits sex offences Former bishop Peter Ball admits sex offences
(about 3 hours later)
A former bishop has admitted sexually assaulting two young men in the 1980s and 1990s. A former bishop who used religion as a "cloak" to groom his victims has pleaded guilty to a string of offences against 18 teenagers and young men.
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, admitted indecent assault and misconduct in public office at the Old Bailey.
He also admitted misconduct in public office between 1977 and 1992. Many victims visited his former East Sussex home as aspiring priests or to explore their spirituality.
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 has been bailed and will be sentenced on 7 October.
He had failed in a bid to get his case thrown out after he claimed he accepted a caution in 1993 and was told it included other offences of the same nature. The former clergyman, who was deemed fit to stand trial but has not been well, pleaded guilty to the charges in advance of his trial.
'Bishop in dock' Appearing via video link from Taunton Crown Court, Ball admitted assaulting two victims between 1980 and 1983 and between 1990 and 1991.
It was argued Ball and the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey, had been assured by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at that time 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 CPS 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.
'Misused position''Misused position'
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. He also admitted misconduct in public office between 1977 and 1992.
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. According to the charge, Ball committed misconduct by "misusing his position in authority to manipulate and prevail upon others for his own sexual gratification" in relation to 16 young men in their late teens or early 20s.
He denied two other counts of indecently assaulting boys - one aged 12 or 13 and the other aged 15 - which will lie on file. Details of the history leading to the former clergyman being charged could only be revealed after Mr Justice Wilkie lifted reporting restrictions.
According to the charge, Ball committed misconduct by "misusing his position in authority to manipulate and prevail upon others for his own sexual gratification." The allegations against Ball, now of Langport in Somerset, followed a review by the Church of England which prompted police action.
Details of the history leading to the former clergyman being charged could only be reported after Mr Justice Wilkie lifted reporting restrictions. He had earlier failed in an attempt to get the case thrown out after he claimed he accepted a caution for one act of gross indecency in 1993.
'Tried every trick' It was argued Ball and the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey, had been assured by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at that time that there would be no future action over related allegations.
After the hearing, one of the men who was due to give evidence against Ball said he was glad the disgraced bishop had pleaded guilty, but he wished he had done it sooner. They were both said to have believed the matter was closed and Ball resigned his post despite Gloucester Police being aware of allegations from two more men.
The man who was abused by Ball as a teenager in the 1970s said the guilty plea saved him going through the trial and facing defence barristers. But the case resurfaced when the Diocese of Bath and Wells carried out a review prompting Sussex Police to reopen the investigation.
But he added: "He knew he was guilty and he could have saved me and the other victims the trauma we've been through. The Sussex force later charged Ball with misconduct and a string of sex offences.
"He tried every trick to get out of admitting his guilt, saying he was too ill to stand trial, so I view his guilty plea very cynically." Unreserved apology
Det Ch Insp Carwyn Hughes, from Sussex Police, said Ball had systematically abused the trust of his victims, who included aspiring priests. Following his guilty pleas, the Church of England apologised to the victims.
He said he used religion as a cloak behind which to carry out his grooming activity, in order to satisfy his sexual interest and desire for young men. In a statement, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler, said: "We offer an unreserved apology to all the survivors and those affected by this news.
And he said the misconduct offence involved 16 young men in their late teens or early 20s.
Det Ch Insp Hughes paid tribute to Ball's victims, who had "a long wait for justice".
'Unreserved apology'
The Church of England has apologised to the victims.
In a statement, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler said: "We offer an unreserved apology to all the survivors and those affected by this news.
"We commend the bravery of those who brought these allegations forward, acknowledging how difficult and distressing this would have been.""We commend the bravery of those who brought these allegations forward, acknowledging how difficult and distressing this would have been."
He said the church co-operated fully with the police throughout the investigation and takes allegations of abuse "very seriously".He said the church co-operated fully with the police throughout the investigation and takes allegations of abuse "very seriously".
Ball will be sentenced on 7 October. One of the men who was due to give evidence against Ball - who was abused by him as a teenager in the 1970s - said he was glad the disgraced bishop had pleaded guilty, but wished he had done it sooner.
"He knew he was guilty and he could have saved me and the other victims the trauma we've been through.
"He tried every trick to get out of admitting his guilt, saying he was too ill to stand trial, so I view his guilty plea very cynically."
Det Ch Insp Carwyn Hughes, from Sussex Police, said Ball had systematically abused the trust of his victims, using religion as a cloak behind which to carry out his grooming activity in order to satisfy his sexual interest and desire for young men.
Ball was Bishop of Lewes between 1977 and 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until his resignation the following year.