AG百家乐在线官网

Prince Charles has been asked to give evidence to a public inquiry into a former bishop who was jailed for sexually abusing young men.

Peter Ball was sentenced to 32 months in 2015 for indecently assaulting two men in their late teens in the 1980s and 1990s and a charge of misconduct in a public office.

The handling of allegations against him is being examined by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Charles had exchanged a series of letters with Ball, the former Bishop of Gloucester, whose diocese covers Highgrove, the prince's country home.

At a hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the inquiry Fiona Scolding QC said witness statements had been requested from the prince and his principal private secretary.

She told the hearing that Charles' solicitors had indicated his "willingness to assist us and have raised a number of important issues for us to consider".

:: Church of England 'colluded' and hid bishop's sex abuse, says Justin Welby

"This has led to lengthy and complex discussions and we are currently considering the latest points they have raised," Ms Scolding added.

"We hope to be able to provide an update to core participants on this in the next couple of weeks."

A spokesman for Charles has previously said the correspondence contained nothing of relevance to the clergyman's offending.

Lawyer Richard Scorer, who is representing complainants at the inquiry, said: "It is imperative that the inquiry leaves no stone unturned in its efforts to establish how Peter Ball was able to evade justice for two decades.

"If this means calling Prince Charles and other prominent establishment figures as witnesses then the inquiry should do so without fear or favour."

A spokesman for Charles said: "Whilst the prince has made it clear that he was unaware of the extent of Mr Ball's behaviour, he has indicated that he is more than willing to provide context on his contact with Mr Ball, as his former local bishop, if that would help the inquiry."