A FORMER bishop of Lewes and Gloucester who exploited aspiring priests for his own "selfish sexual motives" has been jailed for 32 months - 22 years after the abuse first surfaced.

A member of the Royal family was among a host of Establishment figures who supported the former bishop when he avoided charges in 1993.

Last month, after a last-ditch attempt to get his case thrown out failed, Peter Ball pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and two counts of indecent assault on young men in their teens.

The court heard how Ball had convinced some of his victims to strip naked to pray and even suggested they submit to beatings between 1977 and 1992.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Wilkie told the 83-year-old that he had misused his position to "persuade selected individuals to commit or submit to acts of physical or sexual debasement under the guise of being part of their austere regime of devotion when they were not".

The judge said: "What you did was the antithesis of what was expected of someone holding your office."

Following his sentence, Lord Carey, who was Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of the abuse, issued an apology but denied he had presided over a "cover-up".

He said: "I greatly regret the fact that, during my tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury, we dealt inadequately with Peter Ball's victims and gave too much credence to his protestations.

"Allegations by some that my actions amounted to a cover-up or collusion with the abuser are wrong. I have always insisted upon the highest standards of holiness of life from all who are ordained.

"But it is undoubtedly the case that, in the years since the allegations came to light, the Church of England has needed to put into place much better procedures, as have all public institutions in society, to ensure that victims receive justice speedily and properly.

"In the past we failed many victims and allowed abusers to flourish in ministry.

"I hope that, as a result of all these changes, we are now a safer church for the young and the vulnerable."

The Church of England also issued an "unreserved apology", saying: "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."

But lawyer Richard Scorer, of Slater and Gordon, who represents a number of Ball's victims, said the belated jailing of Ball was "little comfort" to those he abused.

He said: "It is a scandal that it has taken so long for him to eventually face justice for his appalling crimes.

"But the way in which senior clergy and establishment figures - including MPs, Cabinet ministers and members of the Royal Family - closed ranks around him has only compounded his victims' anguish.

"This has reinforced the impression their abuse was inflicted upon them with the institutional backing of the Church."

The court heard that Ball preyed on 18 victims at his home in Litlington, East Sussex, after they sought him out mainly through his Give A Year For Christ scheme.

Neil Todd, the first young man to come forward, committed suicide in 2012, aged just 39, after hearing that Sussex Police had reopened the case.

Prosecutor Bobbie Cheema QC said that in 1991, as a 17-year-old novice monk, he had been introduced by Ball to what he called "penitential psalms".

It involved saying prayers naked at night in a chapel before Ball watched the teenager taking a cold shower and pulled down his underpants.

Ball, who called him "love" and "gorgeous", went on to suggest the boy be beaten with a stick or whipped so his body could "bear the marks".

The abuse emerged after he tried to commit suicide in 1992 and Gloucester Police launched an investigation prompting more victims to come forward.

Ball denied wrongdoing and police received a number of phone calls in support of the cleric, including from "MPs, former public school headmasters, JPs, and even a lord", the court heard.

The defence also claimed to have more than 2,000 letters of support, including from Cabinet ministers and a member of the Royal Family, the court heard.

In 1993, Ball accepted a caution for one count of gross indecency and resigned due to ill health but immediately began a campaign to return to work.

In 1995, he was granted permission to officiate as a priest in Truro for six months. Then-Archbishop Carey extended it for a further three years, the court heard.

Ball also tried to overturn his "plea bargain" because of what he described as the malice of his accusers, the court heard.

In 2008, the Church reviewed the case and in 2012 referred it to Sussex Police, who reopened the investigation.

Before pleading guilty in September, Ball made a statement denying that he had gained sexual gratification from the practices he engaged in with the complainants.

He claimed they had been "spiritually uplifted" by his conduct at the time but later felt embarrassed, Ms Cheema said.

Ball has now completely withdrawn those assertions, she added.

In mitigation, Richard Smith QC said many people still feel "strongly" in support of Ball.

He said there was some concern about him being a "scapegoat" and there was "punishment on behalf of the Church".

Cambridge-educated Ball, who now lives in Langport, Somerset, was Bishop of Lewes between 1977 and 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until his resignation the following year.

He was said to have many high-profile friends and acquaintances, including the Prince of Wales.

Earlier this year, Mr Justice Sweeney refused to dismiss the case on a legal technicality after it emerged that Ball and Lord Carey had been assured in 1993 that there would be no future action.

Giving evidence in court, Ball recalled being told by a police officer "Bishop, it's all over" when he asked for a guarantee that his caution would include all other offences "of the same nature".

On making a phone call to the CPS in 1993, Lord Carey said he was told: "He has resigned. He is out of it. The matter is closed. We are not going to take anything any further."

And earlier this week, the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, commissioned an independent report into how the Church dealt with the allegations against Ball.

However, a solicitor acting for four of the victims said the Church should no longer be allowed to "police itself" and the introduction of mandatory reporting was long overdue.

David Greenwood, of Switalskis Solicitors, added that legal action was now under way to sue the Diocese of Chichester.

Of Ball's 18 victims, 12 had come forward since Sussex Police reopened the case in 2012.