During Carey's term as Archbishop of Canterbury there were many complaints of serial sex abuse made against Peter Ball, the bishop of Lewes and later of Gloucester until his resignation in 1993 after admitting to an act of gross indecency. Archbishop Carey wrote to the director of public prosecutions and the chief constable of Gloucester police, supporting Ball and saying that he was suffering "excruciating pain and spiritual torment". In October 2015 Ball was sentenced to 32 months' imprisonment for misconduct in public office and indecent assault; he admitted the abuse of 18 young men aged 17–25.