Establishment flocked to back sex abuse bishop

By Sean O'neill
Times
October 7, 2015

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article4578843.ece

Peter Ball was not charged with sex offences despite there being sufficient evidence to do so Photo by John Stillwell

Sean O'Neil Chief Reporter

MPs, a senior judge, members of the royal family and public school heads waged a campaign on behalf of an Anglican bishop who was under investigation for sex crimes, the Old Bailey heard today.

Police investigating Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Gloucester, in 1993 said they had received dozens of phone calls expressing support for the suspect.

Lawyers for Ball told the Crown Prosecution Service at the time they had 2,000 letters supporting the bishop including “letters from cabinet ministers and the royal family.