Former Bishop Anthony Pierce pleads guilty to child sex offences

Anthony Pierce, the former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, has pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault against a child under 16, with the offences occurring between 1985 and 1990. The Church in Wales expressed profound shame and sympathy for the victim, stating it is appalled by the revelations and has committed to an independent review of its handling of allegations related to Pierce. The allegations emerged in 2023 when the victim disclosed the abuse to a church safeguarding officer, who promptly reported it to the police. Pierce, aged 84, is set to be sentenced on March 7, and the Church has indicated that further disciplinary actions will be considered post-sentencing. Additionally, it was revealed that some members of the Church were aware of another allegation against Pierce from 1993, which had not been reported until 2010. The current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon described the case as 'deeply shocking' and emphasized the Church's commitment to safeguarding measures.