Crime

Former bishop ‘admitted assaulting teenage boy’ years before promotion

Published

5 months ago

December 11, 2025

Church in Wales facing scrutiny over long-held report not given to police for more than a decade

A LEAKED handwritten report has revealed that former Church in Wales bishop Anthony Pierce allegedly admitted sexually assaulting a teenage boy while he was still a parish priest – years before he was appointed Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.

Pierce, now eighty-four, is currently serving a four-year prison sentence handed down earlier this year for separate historic indecent assaults on another boy. The newly disclosed document, seen by the BBC, claims he confessed to what the report’s author described as a “criminal act” involving a fifteen-year-old.

The report, around twenty-five pages long, was written in early 1999, only months before Pierce was elevated to bishop. It was kept within the Church in Wales for eleven years before finally being handed to police in 2010, two years after Pierce stepped down. By that time, the alleged victim – referred to as Dean – had died.

Allegation raised twice before Pierce became bishop

According to lawyers acting for Dean’s family, his mother first raised concerns in 1993, making a formal complaint to the then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Rt Rev Dewi Bridges. The leaked report states that it was after this complaint that Pierce admitted the incident to its author, who was a personal friend rather than an official investigator.

Dean’s mother raised the allegation again in January 1999, only weeks before the report was written and shortly before Pierce was chosen to succeed Bishop Bridges. Despite those warnings, there is no record of Pierce being disciplined.

Church officials say the document was not commissioned by them and will be examined fully as part of an ongoing review into how allegations were handled.

Derogatory comments about the victim

Lawyers for the family say the report paints a deeply unfair picture of Dean and appears designed to protect Pierce’s reputation. The document focuses heavily on the teenager’s personality and sexuality and describes him in disparaging terms. It suggests Pierce, then in his late forties, was “naive”, “confused” and somehow unable to resist the attention of a fifteen-year-old boy.

The report states that Pierce felt “intensely guilty” about what happened and feared losing his ministry if his behaviour became public. It also includes comments about how Dean had “broken through” Pierce’s emotional “barriers”.

A solicitor representing the family, David Greenwood, said the contents of the report had caused “immense distress”. He said similar attempts to discredit complainants were common in historic child abuse cases.

“It appears designed to undermine Dean’s credibility and discourage any further investigation,” he said. “It raises serious questions about whether individuals within the church were seeking to protect Pierce rather than the child.”

Church’s actions under renewed scrutiny

The Church in Wales said it passed the material to police again in 2016 as part of its submissions to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

A previous BBC investigation found that concerns about Pierce had reached senior clergy as early as the mid-1980s, although the church has no record of formal action being taken at the time.

In correspondence released to the BBC, one church employee said the report “should never have been written” using “highly confidential information” and “certainly should not have formed part of any decision-making process”.

Pierce declined to comment when contacted in prison.

The Church in Wales review into how Dean’s allegation was handled is expected to be published in the new year. Pierce is currently serving a sentence of four years and one month after admitting five counts of indecent assault against another child between 1985 and 1990.

Crime

70-year-old denies assault and restraining order breach

Published

2 days ago

May 1, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A PENSIONER from Pembroke Dock has denied breaching a restraining order and assaulting another man.

Henry Howlett, 70, of Market Street, appeared before Swansea Crown Court today (Friday, May 1), charged with breaching a restraining order and common assault.

The charges relate to an alleged incident on November 9 last year.

Howlett has previously appeared before magistrates in connection with a separate alleged incident involving a neighbour.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court previously heard that a dispute arose on July 17 after neighbour Steven Bromhall was washing his car outside his home in Market Street.

Prosecutor Nia James told the court that, as a taxi arrived to collect Howlett, the driver opened the window while passing and Mr Bromhall inadvertently sprayed the taxi driver with water from a hosepipe.

“The taxi driver started remonstrating, and the defendant then began waving his walking stick in the air, towards Mr Bromhall,” she said.

The court heard Mr Bromhall sustained an injury to his back, although it remained unclear whether he had been struck by Howlett’s stick.

Howlett pleaded not guilty to common assault in relation to that incident and was released on unconditional bail. A trial date was set at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

At Swansea Crown Court today, His Honour Judge P H Thomas KC asked Howlett whether he was legally represented.

“I can’t find anyone decent, I’m still searching, my lord,” Howlett replied.

When the court attempted to take his pleas, Howlett repeatedly interrupted in an effort to give an explanation, prompting the judge to tell him: “Be quiet, Mr Howlett.”

Howlett then pleaded not guilty to the charges, telling the court: “Definitely not guilty.”

As he left the courtroom, Howlett said: “I will get the truth out and I hope you all hang your heads in shame… this is all fixed.”

A trial date was set for January 14, 2027.

Crime

Crymych parent denies failing to comply with school attendance order

Published

2 days ago

May 1, 2026

Court Reporter

A CRYMYCH parent has denied failing to comply with a school attendance order, a court has heard.

The defendant appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates charged under the Education Act 1996.

The court heard that the defendant is accused of failing, as a parent, to ensure that a child attended school in accordance with the requirements of a School Attendance Order.

It is alleged that after being served with the order, the defendant did not comply within the required 15-day period.

A plea of not guilty was entered.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a case management hearing, which is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 14.

A reporting restriction remains in force.

Crime

Cockle fisherman fined £3,450 for multiple breaches at protected site

Published

2 days ago

May 1, 2026

Court Reporter

A GOODWICK man has been ordered to pay £3,450 after breaching fishing regulations at a protected cockle fishery.

Richard William Edwards, 45, of Goodwick, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates charged with a series of offences at the Burry Inlet cockle fishery.

The court heard that Edwards had fished for cockles without a valid permit and breached conditions imposed under fisheries management rules. He was also found to have used an unauthorised vehicle in the fishery area, contrary to restrictions in place to protect the site.

Magistrates were told the offences took place on September 9, 2025, within the Burry Inlet Cockle Fishery, a designated and regulated area subject to strict controls.

Edwards was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim services surcharge of £800, along with costs of £650, bringing the total to £3,450. A collection order was made.

The case was brought under fisheries legislation including the Cockle Fisheries Management and Permitting (Specified Area) (Wales) Order 2024.

The court heard that Edwards had been in breach of a prohibition imposed by the permitting system and had failed to comply with the terms of his permit.

The offences are part of ongoing enforcement efforts to protect the sustainability of cockle stocks and ensure compliance within the fishery.