Church bishop’s sex abuse trial put back until next year

UNITED KINGDOM
Brighton and Hove News

Posted On 04 Nov 2014

By : Frank le Duc

The trial of a retired bishop on sex abuse charges has been put back until next year.

The case against the former Bishop of Lewes, Peter Ball, 82, of Langport, Somerset, has been adjourned until Wednesday 14 January.

He appeared at Hove Crown Court by video link from Taunton Magistrates’ Court in May.

He was accused of misconduct in a public office, indecently assaulting a 12 or 13-year-old boy and indecently a 19 or 20-year-old man.

The misconduct charge faced by Ball, of Langport, Somerset, accuses him of misusing his position and authority to manipulate and prevail upon others for his own sexual gratification.

He now faces another charge of indecently assaulting a boy under 16 in 1984 or 1985 and a man over 16 in 1990 or 1991.

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