News

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

Published

11 months 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].”

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after Carmarthen park incident

Published

9 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

57-year-old due in court following alleged knife and stalking offences

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder following a serious incident in Carmarthen town centre last week.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that James McKenna, aged 57, from Carmarthen, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and stalking.

The charges relate to an incident in Carmarthen Park on Thursday (Jan 29), which prompted a significant emergency services response and caused concern among residents.

Police have not yet released full details of the circumstances, but officers were seen in and around the park area for several hours following the incident while enquiries were carried out.

McKenna is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday (Feb 5).

The Herald understands the case involves allegations of both violence and targeted behaviour towards an individual, with stalking listed among the charges.

Public concern

Carmarthen Park is a popular and busy public space used daily by families, dog walkers and joggers, and incidents of this severity are rare.

The news has prompted concern locally, particularly as the alleged offences include possession of a knife in a public place.

Residents have previously raised questions about safety in parks and open spaces across west Wales, especially during darker winter evenings.

Court proceedings

At this stage, the charges remain allegations and the case will now proceed through the courts.

Magistrates will decide whether the case is sent to Crown Court due to the seriousness of the attempted murder charge.

Further details are expected to emerge during Thursday’s hearing.

The Herald will be attending court and will provide updates as they become available.

Crime

Sex offender jailed after living off grid in Pembrokeshire and refusing to register

Published

9 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Court Reporter

Man walked into police station after months avoiding authorities

A CONVICTED sex offender who told police he intended to live “off grid” rather than comply with legal monitoring rules has been jailed after handing himself in at a Pembrokeshire police station.

Christopher Spelman, aged 66, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence at Swansea Crown Court after admitting breaching the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

The court heard Spelman was released from prison in Dorset on July 4 last year but immediately refused to provide police with an address, despite being legally required to do so within three days.

Instead, he indicated he planned to buy a tent and live outdoors.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson said officers subsequently launched a nationwide search when Spelman failed to make contact with police. Public appeals were issued and his case featured on the television programme Crimewatch.

Detectives believed he had been travelling around the UK using public transport and staying at campsites. He was known to have links to several areas including Merseyside, Manchester, Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire.

His whereabouts remained unknown until January 3 this year, when he walked into Haverfordwest police station and was arrested. It is unclear how long he had been in Pembrokeshire.

Spelman previously served seven years in prison after being convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard this was not the first time he had failed to comply with the rules. After an earlier release in 2016, he again failed to register his address and avoided police for around five years before being caught.

He has 11 previous convictions for 29 offences.

Defence barrister Andrew Evans described the case as unusual and said his client had long disputed his original conviction and had expressed a wish to live “outside society”.

However, he said Spelman had gradually accepted that he remained subject to court orders and now wanted more stable accommodation and a chance to rebuild his life. The defendant asked the court to impose a custodial sentence so arrangements could be made for his future release.

Judge Geraint Walters noted there were signs Spelman wished to change but warned that any further breaches would result in longer prison terms.

With credit for his guilty plea, Spelman was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

Crime

Former Wales rugby star admits Christmas Day drink-driving offence

Published

15 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ex-Ospreys captain was almost twice over limit in Pembroke town centre

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has admitted driving through Pembroke town centre on Christmas Day when he was almost twice over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that Thomas, 43, was stopped by officers as he drove his Mercedes CLA 220 along The Green, Pembroke, at around 5pm on Christmas Day.

“The officers were very concerned at the manner of his driving, as the car was being driven erratically and was swerving to the other side of the road,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“When Jonathan Thomas got out of the car, the officers could see that he was having difficulty standing and was unsteady on his feet.”

Subsequent breathalyser tests showed Thomas had 62 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

Thomas, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill.

“He has family in the area and had travelled to spend time with them on Christmas Day,” she told the magistrates. “He’s very remorseful for his actions and hugely regrets his decision that day.”

Jess Hill concluded by saying that Thomas is currently “between jobs and living off his savings”.

Thomas, who gave his address as Main Road, Bredon, was disqualified from driving for a total of 18 months.

“The length of your disqualification reflects the fact that you were more than a little bit over the limit,” commented the presiding magistrates when imposing sentence.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.

The former Wales back row left his role as Swansea RFC head coach at the beginning of December 2025 as a result of ongoing health concerns. He was forced to retire from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy and is one of the 390 former rugby union players currently taking part in a concussion lawsuit against the sport’s authorities.

“Long-standing issues linked to the head trauma have caused me some concern recently and it has been impossible for me to give the role everything it needs,” he said in a previous interview with the BBC.

His rugby career started out with Pembroke RFC juniors before moving to Swansea RFC, which he captained when he was 19. He then joined the Ospreys where, over a ten-year period, he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He was the youngest player to captain the Ospreys and, at the time of leaving, was the joint highest appearance holder, together with Andrew Bishop, on 188 appearances.

His international career saw him play for Wales at Under-16, Youth, Under-19, Under-21 and Sevens levels. He made his senior international debut against Australia in 2003, featured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was part of two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning sides in 2005 and 2008. Between 2004 and 2011, Thomas was included in every Wales Six Nations squad. In his appearances for Wales, he scored seven tries.