Former British bishop charged with sex offenses

A former bishop in the Church of England has been charged with sexually assaulting at least two young males and abusing his position over a 15-year period.

On Thursday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) made the announcement regarding charges brought against Peter Ball, the former bishop of Gloucester and of Lewes.

“It is alleged that he sexually abused a number of young males between 1977 and 1992. The misconduct alleged is that he misused his position and authority to manipulate and prevail upon others for his own sexual gratification. During this time Mr. Ball was a bishop in the Church of England,” Jaswant Narwal, chief for CPS south-east, said.

Ball, 82, is being charged with misconduct in public office between October 1977 and December 1992, indecent assault on a young boy around 13 years of age in 1978, and indecent assault on a young man aged around 20 between 1980 and 1982.

The former bishop is to appear before Brighton magistrates on April 10.

Ball was arrested at his home in Somerset in November 2012. He was immediately released after being arrested, on medical advice.

His arrest came after Sussex police carried out a six-month investigation into abuse allegations in the diocese of Chichester. Alleged sexual offenses against 19 men and young boys by Ball, were also investigated.

The probe by Sussex police was in complete cooperation with the Church of England.