The former Bishop of Lewes Peter Ball has been jailed for 32 months for sexually abusing teenage boys and young men.
He said that he was very sorry as he went into the Central Criminal Court – better known as the Old Bailey – in London today (Wednesday 7 October).
The judge Mr Justice Wilkie – Sir Alan Wilkie – said that Ball, 83, had done so much good and so much harm.
Ball, a former Lancing College pupil who started his church career as a curate in Rottingdean, admitted his crimes last month.
He carried out the abuse during the 15 years that he spent as Bishop of Lewes – from 1977 to 1992.
A year later he resigned as Bishop of Gloucester after accepting a caution for sexual assault.
The Church of England’s lead bishop on safeguarding Paul Butler said: “It is a matter of deep shame and regret that a bishop in the Church of England has today been sentenced for a series of offences over 15 years against 18 young men known to him.
“There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place and the systematic abuse of trust perpetrated by Peter Ball over decades.
“We apologise unreservedly to those survivors of Peter Ball’s abuse and pay tribute to their bravery in coming forward and also the long wait for justice that they have endured.
“We note that there are those whose cases remain on file for whom today will be a difficult day, not least in the light of the courage and persistence that they have demonstrated in pressing for the truth to be revealed.
“We also remember Neil Todd, whose bravery in 1992 enabled others to come forward but who took his own life before Peter Ball’s conviction or sentencing.
“As the police have noted, Peter Ball systematically abused the trust of the victims, many of whom were aspiring priests, while others were simply seeking to explore their spirituality.
“He also abused the trust placed in him by the church and others, maintaining a campaign of innocence for decades until his final guilty plea only weeks ago.
“After the guilty plea was made, processes in the church have begun to initiate formal internal disciplinary procedures against Peter Ball.
“Operation Dunhill began as a direct result of the safeguarding officer at Lambeth Palace raising concerns about Peter Ball following a church-initiated review of files.
“The approach to the police was a proactive step on the part of the national church leading to a self-initiated referral via CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre) to Sussex Police in 2012.
