A 54-YEAR-OLD man from Llanon, Ceredigion has been remanded in custody accused of rape and sexual assault.

Nicolas Edwards, of Ty Meira, Stryd yr Eglwys, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on 3 February. He faces charges in relation to two alleged incidents:

• Rape – Alleged to have occurred between 26 and 27 January this year.
• Sexual assault – Alleged to have taken place on 29 December last year.

Edwards did not enter pleas during the hearing.

The case has been sent to Swansea Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 7 March.

He has been remanded in custody until then.

Readers should remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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.

A MAN accused of causing the death of a six-month-old baby in a car park incident in Tenby has appeared at Swansea Crown Court.

Flaviu Naghi, 33, from Wigan, is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance following an incident on Thursday (Jan 2) in the ground floor of the multi-storey car park near Sainsbury’s.

Baby Sophia Kelemen was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries but died the following day (Jan 3).

Defence presents case in court

During Friday’s (Feb 7) hearing, Naghi’s defence counsel, Mr Pulling, told the court that the incident was “a terrible, terrible accident” and claimed Naghi had not intended to drive the vehicle. The defence argues that a friend had left the handbrake off and that the car moved when the engine was started.

Naghi remains charged and the case will now proceed through the court system.

Trial expected in coming weeks

A full trial is expected in the coming weeks, where the court will consider the circumstances of the case.