Retired Church of England Bishop Jailed for Sexual Assaults on Young Men

Retired UK bishop Peter Ball was sentenced for a series of offences over 15 years against 18 young men known to him, according to a statement by the Church of England.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Retired UK bishop Peter Ball was sentenced to 32 months for misconduct in public office and 15 months for indecent assaults on young men, Wednesday, according a statement by the Church of England, published on its website.

"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,” the statement reads.

Ball resigned in 1993 after he was cautioned for an act of gross indecency against a 16-year-old trainee monk.

On September 8, the former Bishop of Lewes and Bishop of Gloucester admitted to committing offenses against 18 teenagers and young men between the 1970s and the 1990s.

In its statement, the Church of England made an apology to the survivors of Ball's abuse.

According to the statement, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has commissioned an independent review of the way the Church responded to Ball’s case, which will be made public after its completion.