EditorSWANSEA: Police appeal for further victim-survivors to come forward after former bishop’s child sex offence conviction
South Wales Police is appealing for further victim-survivors to come forward following the conviction of former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon Anthony Pierce for child sex offences.
The 84-year-old, of Swansea Vale, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16 at Swansea Crown Court in February last year.
He was sentenced to four years and one month in prison.
Upon his release, he will be made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He will be on the sex offenders register for life.
Pierce was previously found guilty of indecent assault with a child in proceedings that drew national attention to the failures of the Church in Wales to act on earlier complaints about his conduct.
Since his sentencing, South Wales Police has received three further reports of offences dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, which are under investigation.
The force is now urging anyone else who may have been affected to come forward.
Detective Inspector Tom Richardson of Swansea CID said the bravery of the original victim had been instrumental in bringing Pierce to justice.
“We know how difficult it must be for anyone to have suffered abuse in the past to come forward now. It was the bravery of the victim who reported Pierce’s actions which was instrumental in bringing him to justice,” he said.
He confirmed three further people had come forward since the conviction. “Since the conviction and sentencing of Pierce we have received reports from three people who have taken that first step in coming forward,” he said.
DI Richardson said the force believed there may be others affected. “We believe that there may be others who have been subject to Pierce’s crimes and we want to provide reassurance that any reports will be fully investigated and dealt with sensitively and with compassion,” he said.
He encouraged anyone affected to speak to the police. “We recognise that coming forward can be daunting but would encourage victim-survivors to speak with us so they can get the support and help they deserve,” he said.
The case has previously raised serious questions about how complaints against Pierce were handled within the Church.
Children’s Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes called for reform after what she described as serious failures in the Church’s handling of complaints relating to Pierce – and called for an end to the practice of religious institutions investigating themselves when allegations of child abuse arise.
Anyone with information that may assist the ongoing investigation, or anyone who has been affected by Pierce’s offending, is asked to contact South Wales Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 2600140999.
Reports can also be made anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
For information and a supporting guide on reporting sexual offences, visit south-wales.police.uk.
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, support is available.
- The Survivors Trust – 0808 801 0818 – thesurvivorstrust.org
- NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) – 0808 801 0331 – napac.org.uk
- Rape Crisis England and Wales – 0808 802 9999 – rapecrisis.org.uk
- Samaritans – 116 123 (free, 24/7)
Lara ☀️