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Ministers and royal family member 'supported sex abuse bishop'

A high-profile former bishop has been jailed for 32 months for a string of sexual offences against young men.

Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Lewes, said he was "very, very sorry" as he walked into the Old Bailey to be sentenced for the offences between 1977 and 1992.

It emerged in court that cabinet ministers and a member of the royal family sent letters of support for Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Lewes, after he received a caution for indecent assault in 1993.

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Prince of Wales made no intervention in Peter Ball case

The Prince of Wales made no intervention in the case against former bishop Peter Ball, Clarence House said after comments made in court today that "ministers and a royal family member" had "supported" Ball.

The Prince of Wales made no intervention in the judicial process on behalf of Peter Ball

– Clarence House
Police told the court that they had received calls of support for Peter Ball from MPs and a Lord Chief Justice when he was accused of sex offences in 1993 Credit: PA

Ball, the former Bishop of Lewes and Gloucester, was jailed for 32 months today after being found guilty of a string of historic sexual offences against young aspiring priests.

The crimes were committed over the space of 15 years and date back to the time period covering 1977 to 1992.

Prince Charles' Highgrove home is located in Ball's former Gloucester diocese.

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Ministers and royal family member 'supported sex abuse bishop'

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