A DISGRACED former bishop has admitted to a series of sickening child sex offences, The Herald can reveal. Anthony Pierce, once a trusted figure in the Church in Wales, appeared before Swansea Crown Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a male child under 16.

Pierce, who served as the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon between 1999 and 2008, carried out the vile acts between 1985 and 1990 while working as a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea. The Church in Wales has confirmed the offences, branding them “shocking crimes” and expressing “profound shame.”

The court heard that the allegations only came to light last year when the survivor bravely disclosed the abuse to the church’s safeguarding officer. The information was immediately passed to the police, leading to Pierce’s arrest and subsequent charges.

Pierce has been released on bail, with sentencing set for March 7 at Swansea Crown Court.

Church under scrutiny

The case has sent shockwaves through the Church in Wales, raising serious questions about its handling of past allegations. The church has admitted that some members may have been aware of a previous allegation against Pierce in 1993 but failed to act decisively. An urgent review has now been launched into how that complaint was handled.

In a statement, the Church in Wales said: “We are appalled at the offences which have been revealed in this case and express our deepest sympathy with the victim for the abuse they have suffered. It is a cause of the most profound shame that a priest in the Church in Wales should have been convicted of such shocking crimes.”

The current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Right Reverend John Lomas, addressed parishioners in a letter, acknowledging the deep betrayal felt by those who knew Pierce. “Tony Pierce was your parish priest, your archdeacon, your bishop. The Diocese is full of people baptised, confirmed or ordained by him. This case will be deeply shocking to so many of you.”

Calls for accountability

Victims’ groups and campaigners are now calling for greater accountability within the Church in Wales, urging transparency in dealing with allegations of abuse.

The Church in Wales Disciplinary Tribunal has confirmed it will take further action following Pierce’s sentencing.

This latest scandal adds to a growing list of historic abuse cases that have rocked religious institutions across the UK, once again highlighting the urgent need for rigorous safeguarding measures and accountability for those in positions of trust.