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| Peter Ball: Sex offender bishop dies | Peter Ball: Sex offender bishop dies |
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| A retired bishop who was jailed for a string of sexual offences against teenagers and young men has died. | A retired bishop who was jailed for a string of sexual offences against teenagers and young men has died. |
| The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said Peter Ball "was able to sexually abuse vulnerable teenagers and young men for decades". | The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said Peter Ball "was able to sexually abuse vulnerable teenagers and young men for decades". |
| He was jailed in 2015 after being found guilty of misconduct in public office and indecent assaults. | He was jailed in 2015 after being found guilty of misconduct in public office and indecent assaults. |
| The Church of England confirmed Ball's death and offered "prayers and thoughts" for "everyone affected". | The Church of England confirmed Ball's death and offered "prayers and thoughts" for "everyone affected". |
| Bishop Peter Hancock, the Church's safeguarding lead, said: "We have been made aware of the death of Peter Ball and our prayers and thoughts are with everyone affected by this news." | Bishop Peter Hancock, the Church's safeguarding lead, said: "We have been made aware of the death of Peter Ball and our prayers and thoughts are with everyone affected by this news." |
| Ball, of Langport in Somerset, was Bishop of Lewes between 1977 and 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until he resigned the following year. | Ball, of Langport in Somerset, was Bishop of Lewes between 1977 and 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until he resigned the following year. |
| After his trial at the Old Bailey, Ball was sentenced to 32 months for offences against 18 teenagers and men over three decades. | |
| He was released from prison in February 2017, having served 16 months. | |
| The IICSA heard last year Ball had been friends with Prince Charles before the bishop was convicted. | |
| In a written submission to the inquiry, the prince said he felt "deep personal regret" for trusting Ball when initial reports of abuse emerged, years before he was jailed. |