A member of the Royal Family, MPs and a Lord Chief Justice all intervened to stop a former bishop facing charges for abuse, a court has heard.
The former Bishop of Lewes and later Gloucester, Peter Ball, is being sentenced for sexually abusing 18 boys between 1977 and 1992.
The Old Bailey heard that when police initially investigated in 1992 he escaped prosecution.
Prosecutor Bobbie Cheema QC said officers were sent letters in favour of the bishop by an unnamed member of the Royal Family and MPs.
Mr Ball, 83, arrived at court needing help to walk and with two bags, knowing that he could leave in a prison van.
The court has heard how Ball used his position as a bishop to 'groom and exploit sensitive and vulnerable young men'.
Religion was a cloak he used to abuse young teenagers, the judge was told.
Ball's defence said there were 'grave and serious concerns' about how the Church handled allegations of abuse.
The former bishops sentence should not be used to make up for the failings of the Church, his defence told the court.
The defence added that His offences were 'very much of his dark side'.
The sentencing continues.
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Article by Antony Bushfield
Antony Bushfield is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
