Crime

Church knew of abuse claims against former bishop decades before arrest

Published

9 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

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

16 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

17 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.