News

Former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon jailed for historic child sex abuse

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2025

A FORMER bishop has been jailed for sexually abusing a boy over a five-year period while serving as a priest.

Anthony Pierce, 84, who was bishop of Swansea and Brecon from 1999 to 2008, admitted five counts of indecent assault on a child under 16.

Swansea Crown Court heard the abuse took place between 1985 and 1990 while Pierce was a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea.

Sentencing him to four years and one month in prison—half to be served behind bars before release on licence—Judge Catherine Richards told him: “You exploited his age and your position of trust.”

In a statement read in court, the victim said he remembered “exactly how I felt as the abuse took place” and described an “overwhelming sense of embarrassment” that prevented him from speaking out at the time.

“I have very low self-esteem and self-worth. I do not have friends. I feel trapped as I’m unable to move past the trauma of what happened,” he said.

The victim said he became dependent on alcohol as a teenager and struggled to form relationships. However, speaking out had given him an “overwhelming sense of relief” and made him feel “released from something that’s had a hold over me all these years”.

Pierce, who appeared in court with grey hair and glasses, was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders register for life, barring him from working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults.

Prosecutor Dean Pulling said the abuse was “completely uninvited and unwanted”.

“He said he felt repelled by what the defendant did to him,” Mr Pulling told the court.

During a police interview, Pierce denied being attracted to children.

Judge Richards told Pierce, who was in his late 40s at the time of the offences: “You were expected to be trusted and respected. Any parent or adult at that time would understandably have trusted that their child was safe with you and you would act in accordance with your professed Christian values.

“Instead, you began to groom him.”

Defending, Heath Edwards said Pierce “deeply regrets the behaviour” and warned there was a risk he would “spend the rest of his life serving a custodial sentence”.

The Church in Wales said it felt “profound shame” over the offences and confirmed allegations about Pierce’s abuse only emerged in 2023 when the victim came forward.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Anthony Pierce has abused his position, disgraced his church and, worst of all, inflicted appalling and lasting trauma on his victim.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim in this case, who has shown immense courage in reporting what are deeply painful experiences. We offer him the most heartfelt apology for what he has had to endure.”

It later emerged that a separate allegation of sexual abuse against Pierce was reported to senior church figures in 1993—17 years before it was passed to police. The alleged victim, believed to have been under 18 at the time, had died by the time the church informed officers in 2010.

The Church in Wales has launched an independent review into the handling of that complaint and wider safeguarding procedures.

Pierce, who was made a commander of the Order of St John in 2002 and a knight of the order in 2010 for charitable service, is no longer a member, St John Ambulance confirmed.

He stepped down as bishop in January 2008, aged 67. Swansea University, which had awarded him an honorary fellowship, said it would now review that decision.

The Right Reverend John Lomas, the current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, said he would ask the tribunal to consider deposing Pierce from Holy Orders—the most severe sanction available.

Monique McKevitt, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Pierce initially denied the offences but pleaded guilty when confronted with “overwhelming prosecution evidence”.

She described his actions as a “gross abuse of trust” by someone expected to preside over important religious ceremonies.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “As a parish priest, Pierce grossly exploited his position of trust in the community to abuse a teenage boy.

“The victim in this case has shown great bravery in speaking out and helping to ensure Pierce faced justice for his crimes.

“Child sexual abuse can have a devastating and lasting impact on the victims, which is why it is so important that anyone who suffers such abuse knows that if they speak out, they will be listened to and supported.

“It is also vital that anyone who has worries about a child’s safety, raises their concerns. They can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or [email protected].”

Community

Weather presenter spotted filming in Pembrokeshire

Published

8 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WELL-KNOWN Welsh weather presenter was spotted in Pembrokeshire as he filmed scenes for a new series celebrating the county’s coastline.

Derek Brockway, who has been a familiar face on BBC Wales since 1995, was in St Davids recently working on another instalment of his popular walking series along the Pembrokeshire Coast.

Local resident Thomas Tudor said it was “lovely” to meet the broadcaster during filming, posing for a photograph alongside his mother, Beryl Tudor, and sister, Bethan Thomas Price.

Brockway, who is based at BBC Cymru Wales in Cardiff, is widely known not only for his weather forecasts across television, radio and online, but also for his programmes showcasing Wales’ landscapes and coastal paths.

The latest filming in St Davids is expected to form part of an upcoming series highlighting the natural beauty and walking routes of Pembrokeshire, an area long regarded as one of the jewels in Wales’ tourism crown.

Ministry of Defence

Defence families in Wales to save up to £6,000 under new childcare scheme

Published

9 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MAJOR new childcare support scheme for Armed Forces families will be rolled out across Wales from September 2026, the UK Government has announced.

The initiative is expected to save eligible families up to £6,000 per child each year, providing a significant boost to household finances amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

The scheme will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement system and will bring Wales in line with the level of support already available to forces families in England.

Today, 19/03/2026 The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey visited Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, home to 3rd Battalion the Rifles. He met with families to launch a new scheme for Defence Families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministers say the move is part of a wider effort to improve recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces, with childcare costs identified as a key pressure affecting morale.

The new support will cover children from nine months old until they reach three years of age in Wales and Scotland, and up to four years old in Northern Ireland.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP announced the scheme during a visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.

He said: “Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. As the demands on defence increase, it is right that we step up our support for those who serve.

“This offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, wherever they are posted.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “Service families in Wales make huge sacrifices and deserve the best possible support.

“They contribute not only to our national security but also to the Welsh economy. This scheme delivers meaningful help with the cost of childcare.”

The scheme will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs for eligible working families. To qualify, both parents must be in employment and meet the income thresholds required for a Tax-Free Childcare account.

Hundreds of families across Wales are expected to benefit.

The announcement forms part of a broader package of support introduced since July 2024, including improved military housing, the largest Armed Forces pay rise in two decades, and plans to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant in law.

Further details will be provided in the coming months, with families encouraged to begin considering childcare arrangements ahead of the scheme’s launch.

Community

Broad Haven volunteers secure ‘national asset’ status for nature reserve

Published

9 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SMALL stretch of woodland and former opencast coal mine has been transformed into a nationally recognised biodiversity site, in a major first for Wales.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve has been awarded ‘Naturfa’ status, becoming the first community-managed site in Wales to receive the designation.

The recognition, confirmed by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, classifies the reserve as an “Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure” (OECM). This means the volunteer-led work of the Support the Boardwalk group will now contribute directly to Wales’ 30×30 target – the global commitment to protect 30% of land, freshwater and sea for nature by 2030.

In a further boost, the site has also been included in the National Forest for Wales, recognising its role in strengthening a connected network of woodlands and habitats across the country.

Once a simple local walkway, the Slash Pond has developed into a thriving wildlife haven. The reserve now supports a wide range of species, including critically endangered European eels, otters, ten species of bat, and more than fifty species of birds, alongside diverse aquatic plants and insects.

Huw Irranca-Davies said: “These special places are a testament to the care and dedication of people working on the ground – securing a legacy for future generations. Nature can only thrive where habitats are resilient, protected and effectively managed.”

The new status is expected to unlock future funding opportunities, supporting long-term plans for maintaining the boardwalk, monitoring biodiversity and water quality, installing new signage, and expanding environmental education work with Broad Haven Primary School and the wider Havens community.

Andy Drumm, a volunteer with Support the Boardwalk, said: “We’ve always known how special the Slash Pond is, but this recognition puts it firmly on the map as a national asset. It’s a tribute to years of hard work and shows that local communities can lead the way in tackling the nature crisis.”

To mark the achievement, a Spring Family Fun Day will take place on Friday (May 9) from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Slash Pond car park.

The event will feature guided nature walks, pond dipping, a wildlife treasure trail, live music, and family activities including crafts and face painting. The official unveiling of the Naturfa certificate and new reserve branding will also take place, alongside the launch of a new book, From Culm to Calm: A History of the Slash Pond by local author David Meanwell.

Karen Riggs, a long-time volunteer, said: “This achievement belongs to everyone in Broad Haven who has supported the site over the years. We’re not just celebrating a new title – we’re celebrating what our community has built together.”

The day will also see the installation of new benches at the observation decks and the launch of a floating island habitat to support wildfowl and other bird species. Visitors will also be invited to share feedback on plans for an improved picnic area designed to withstand local flooding.

Naturfa is a Welsh Government initiative recognising areas outside traditional protected sites, such as SSSIs, that are managed in ways which deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve is managed by the Support the Boardwalk group in partnership with The Havens Community Council, and is maintained entirely by volunteers.

Further information and updates are available via the Support the Boardwalk Facebook page.