Former Bishop Anthony Pierce sentenced for child sex abuse

Anthony Pierce, the former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, has been sentenced to four years and one month in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16. The abuse occurred between 1985 and 1990 while Pierce was a parish priest, exploiting the trust placed in him by the victim's family, whom he had previously christened. The victim, now an adult, disclosed the abuse to a Church in Wales safeguarding officer in 2023, leading to Pierce's arrest. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that a previous allegation against Pierce was reported in 1993 but was not passed to police until 2010, long after the alleged victim's death. Following his conviction, the current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon indicated plans to seek Pierce's deposition from Holy Orders. The Church in Wales has expressed deep remorse for the victim and initiated an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the case.