Former bishop jailed for four years after pleading guilty to sexual abuse.

Former Bishop, Anthony Pierce has been jailed for sexually abusing a boy during the 1980s. Pierce who is now aged 84, has been jailed for four years and one month after admitting to five charges of indecent assault. Upon release, Pierce will also be made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the sex offenders register for life. 

Pierce would abuse the boy during organ and piano lessons at the church. He would give the survivor ‘bear hugs’ while touching him inappropriately. The survivor also described how Pierce would try to kiss him while touching him. This abuse would occur once a fortnight.  The allegations were first reported in 2023 when the survivor disclosed the abuse to his brother and parents. He then told the safeguarding officer at a church in Wales. South Wales Police were immediately informed of the allegations. 

As a result of the abuse, the survivor revealed in his statement read out in court that he became suicidal and alcohol dependant during his teenage years.  

Separate allegations had also been made against Pierce in 1993 however these were not disclosed by the senior members of the church. 17 years later, when the allegations eventually came to light an investigation could not proceed as the survivor had died. 

Pierce showed no remorse as he was sentenced to four years and one month. Judge Catherine Richards addressed Pierce in court and said:

‘You abused the trust of one of the children in your parish. 

You had been in his life since you christened him. You were not just a vicar to that family but also a trusted friend. 

You should have shown care compassion for children, instead you started to groom him, bringing sexual topics into the conversation. 

You were a man in your late forties, he was only 14 years of age.’

Pierce is now in ill health with heart and eyesight problems. It has been reported that he may die in prison.