Former bishop Anthony Pierce, aged 84, has been sentenced to four years and one month in prison for sexually abusing a boy over a five-year period while he was a priest in West Cross, Swansea. The abuse, which included five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16, took place between 1985 and 1990. Pierce, who was bishop of Swansea and Brecon from 1999 to 2008, was described by the judge as having “exploited his age and position of trust” during the offences. The victim expressed feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth as a result of the abuse, but also mentioned a sense of relief after speaking out. Pierce was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders register for life. The Church in Wales stated that allegations of the abuse did not surface until 2023, despite a previous report of misconduct in 1993. Pierce, who had received honors for charitable service, stepped down as bishop in 2008 and has since been stripped of his affiliations. The Crown Prosecution Service emphasized the gross abuse of trust by Pierce, who initially denied the allegations but later pleaded guilty in court.
