Annex 4: Chronology relating to the Peter Ball Case Study

Date	Event
March 1960	Peter Ball and his twin brother jointly found a monastic institution for the training of monks. It is named the Community of the Glorious Ascension. Peter Ball becomes its first Prior.
October 1992	Peter Ball commits an offence of gross indecency against Neil Todd.
Mid‐November 1992	Neil Todd attempts to take his own life. He reports his abuse to the Bishop of Southwark, Roy Williamson.
Early December 1992	Neil Todd reports his abuse to the Bishop of Chichester, Eric Kemp. Following a second suicide attempt, his mother informs the Metropolitan Police of his allegations, who pass the matter to Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Mid‐December 1992	Peter Ball is arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and gross indecency. He is interviewed and bailed by Gloucestershire Constabulary. His solicitor instructs Reverend Brian Tyler to investigate Neil Todd’s allegations independently of the police.
Late December 1992	A number of letters are sent to Archbishop George Carey by members of the public, alleging child sexual abuse by Peter Ball.
January 1993	Peter Ball is arrested on suspicion of offences against two further complainants. He is released on police bail.
March 1993	Peter Ball is cautioned for one offence of gross indecency against Neil Todd. He resigns as the Bishop of Gloucester. Reverend Brian Tyler submits his final report to Bishop Eric Kemp.
March 1995	Archbishop Carey grants Peter Ball Provincial Permission to Officiate as a priest in the parishes of All Saints Falmouth and Feock, in the Diocese of Truro, for a period of six months. This is later extended to three years.
December 2004	Following an enquiry initiated by Archbishop Williams, it comes to light that Peter Ball has been staying on the premises of a public school in Oxford and carrying out confirmations there without consent. No action is taken by the Church.
February 2008	Peter Ball accompanies a priest, who had received a police warning for harassing an adolescent, to a review meeting with the Child Protection Officer in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Child Protection Officer is unaware of Peter Ball’s background and he does not disclose this.
October 2008	With their consent, copies of the letters sent by complainants to Archbishop Carey in 1993 are disclosed to Northamptonshire Police.
December 2008	An Independent Review Panel chaired by Professor Anthony Mellows reviews the Peter Ball case.
May 2009	Kate Wood, Independent Safeguarding Adviser, carries out a Past Cases Review of files held at Lambeth Palace.
July 2009	Peter Ball undergoes a risk assessment. It concludes that he should be denied unsupervised access to young people.
September 2009	A contract and formal ‘safeguarding children’ agreement are put in place between Peter Ball and the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
May 2010	Peter Ball is referred to the Independent Safeguarding Authority for inclusion on the children’s barred list.
April 2012	Mrs Kate Wood reviews files relating to Peter Ball. She recommends that all the information should be passed to Sussex Police.
July 2012	An investigation is set up by Sussex Police into the criminal activity of Peter Ball. The investigation is named Operation Dunhill.
August 2012	Neil Todd dies in hospital following a third suicide attempt.
November 2012	Peter Ball and Vickery House are arrested by Sussex Police. It becomes apparent that Peter Ball is unwell. He is de‐arrested without interview. Vickery House is interviewed under caution and denies any wrongdoing.
September 2015	Following an agreed basis of plea, Peter Ball pleads guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one count of misconduct in public office. Archbishop Justin Welby writes letters of apology to the victims of Peter Ball.
January 2016	Peter Ball is prohibited from ministry for life under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003.
August 2016	Sussex Police conclude that it is not in the public interest to proceed with four further complaints of abuse made against Peter Ball.
February 2017	Peter Ball is released from prison on licence.
June 2017	‘An Abuse of Faith’, the Independent Peter Ball Review by Dame Moira Gibb, is published.