Crime

Church knew of abuse claims against former bishop decades before arrest

Published

2 months ago

October 2, 2025

THE CHURCH IN WALES has admitted that senior clergy were alerted to concerns about Anthony Pierce in the 1980s, years before he rose through the ranks to become Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.

Pierce, now 70, was jailed in March for four years and one month after pleading guilty to five indecent assaults on a boy under the age of 16 between 1985 and 1990, when he was still a parish priest.

A former student at Swansea University, Alisdair Adams, has revealed he reported inappropriate behaviour by Pierce in the mid-1980s. He says he was invited to dinner by the priest, given alcohol but no food, and then touched inappropriately when the lights were switched off.

Mr Adams said he was furious to later see Pierce sentenced, knowing the Church had received complaints decades earlier. “They had information and they didn’t investigate it. They just pushed it to one side,” he said.

The Church has confirmed that the then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, Benjamin Vaughan, was told of the allegation at the time. However, there is no record of Pierce facing any disciplinary action, and he went on to continue his ministry before becoming bishop in 1999. Vaughan died in 2003.

Mr Adams, now 59, said: “It still makes me livid that they knew about this 40 years ago. Safeguarding is better today, of course, but why were students’ claims not investigated?”

The BBC investigation which uncovered the claims also heard from another student who reported similar concerns about Pierce in the 1980s, and it is understood a third student was spoken to at the time.

The Church in Wales has said the clergy involved acted “in accordance with appropriate practice at the time”, but stressed that procedures have since changed. Today, such an allegation would be referred directly to safeguarding professionals.

The Church has also confirmed that Pierce faced a separate allegation in 1993 which was not referred to the police until 2010. A report on that case is expected to be published in October, with Mr Adams’ complaint set to be included.

Pierce served as Bishop of Swansea and Brecon from 1999 until 2008. When sentencing him earlier this year, a judge said he had behaved “hypocritically and in breach of the trust invested in you by the community.”

A Church spokesperson said safeguarding officers remain in contact with Mr Adams and continue to urge anyone with concerns to come forward.

Crime

Two Milford Haven men sent to Crown Court on GBH charges

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

The incident stems from a violent incident outside The Vibe public house, Milford Haven involving three men – a woman was also wounded in the incident

TWO Milford Haven men have been sent to Swansea Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding after an alleged incident in the town on November 15.

David McCallum, 41, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday (Nov 17). He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a woman in Milford Haven with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

McCallum also faces a second section 18 charge alleging that, on the same date in Milford Haven, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, with the prosecution conducted by Nia James.

On Tuesday (Nov 18), Nathan Abbott, 31, also of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Abbott is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a man in Milford Haven on November 15 with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

He was represented by Mike Kelleher, of Welch & Co.

Abbott also gave no plea, and his case was likewise sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Both McCallum and Abbott were remanded on conditional bail.

McCallum’s bail conditions include a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, not to contact directly or indirectly witnesses, and not to enter any public house, licensed club or off-licence.

Abbott’s bail conditions include living and sleeping each night at his home address , not to contact witnesses directly or indirectly, and not to enter licensed premises.

Both men must appear for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19, 2025, at 9:00am.

No pre-sentence reports were ordered and no indication was given regarding any victim personal statements at this stage.

Crime

Aberystwyth man remanded after admitting cocaine supply

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has been remanded in custody after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply and having £7,000 in criminal cash.

Luke Hutton, 25, of Corporation Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17) for his first hearing. The case was heard by a bench of Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. He was represented by Jessica Hill and Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

Hutton pleaded guilty to two offences arising from a police incident at Yr Hafan, Princess Street, Aberystwyth, on November 14.

The first charge was possessing £7,000 in criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The second was possessing a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Magistrates were told that Hutton indicated guilty pleas to both matters on the day of his appearance.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, the bench committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence under Section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

Magistrates refused bail, citing the likelihood of further offending, the seriousness of the offences and the likely custodial sentence. Hutton was remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on December 1, 2025, at 9:00am, for a committal for sentence hearing, listed for 30 minutes.

Crime

Motorcyclist to return to court over Dinas Cross crash that seriously injured woman

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Case adjourned after part-heard trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court

A MAN accused of causing serious injury to a woman by careless driving on the A487 at Dinas Cross will return to court next month after his trial was adjourned part-heard.

Aleksandrs Lohins, 61, of Mayfield Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, is charged with causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, contrary to section 2C of the Road Traffic Act. The allegation relates to a collision on April 9, 2023, in which motorcyclist Anna Titorchuk suffered serious injuries.

Lohins is alleged to have been riding a Honda GL-1800 motorcycle, registration WJ05 MDE, without due care and attention when the incident occurred.

The trial began at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17), with a bench comprising Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. Lohins was represented by defence solicitor Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

After hearing evidence, magistrates adjourned the case part-heard.

Lohins remains on unconditional bail.

The matter will resume at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on December 8, 2025, at 11:00am, in Courtroom 1. The hearing is listed for an estimated 20 minutes, and the defendant must attend.