Ex-bishop jailed for intercourse assaults on boy

A former bishop has been jailed for sexually abusing a boy over a five-year length whilst he was once a clergyman.

Anthony Pierce, 84, who was once bishop of Swansea and Brecon between 1999 and 2008, pleaded in charge to 5 counts of indecent attack on a kid beneath the age of 16.

Swansea Crown Court docket heard the abuse, which integrated sexual touching, took place from 1985 till 1990, whilst Pierce was once a parish priest in West Move, Swansea.

Sentencing Pierce to 4 years and one month – part of which he’ll serve in the back of bars sooner than spending the remainder on licence – Pass judgement on Catherine Richards stated: “You exploited his age and your place of accept as true with.”

Studying a remark in court docket, the sufferer stated he remembered “precisely how I felt because the abuse happened” and had “an awesome sense of embarrassment, as I may just now not really feel the braveness to mention no”.

“I’ve very low vanity and self esteem. I would not have pals. I think trapped as I am not able to transport previous the trauma of what took place,” he stated.

He added he felt an “overwhelming sense of reduction” after talking out and felt like he were “launched from one thing that is had a cling over me these kind of years”.

South Wales Police stated Pierce was once additionally made matter of a sexual hurt prevention order and can be at the intercourse offenders sign in for existence.

Prosecutor Dean Pulling instructed the court docket the abuse was once “utterly uninvited and undesirable”.

Addressing Pierce, Pass judgement on Richards added: “There is just one one who must really feel disgrace for what happened and that’s you.

“You had been anticipated to be relied on and revered.”

In 2002, Pierce was once made a commander of the order of St John, and in 2010 a knight of the order of St John, an honour conferred to turn “outstanding” charitable provider in medical institution settings and for the ones in want.

St John Ambulance stated he was once not a member of the order.

Pierce stood down as bishop of Swansea and Brecon in January 2008, elderly 67.

He was once awarded an honorary fellowship by means of Swansea College, which the establishment has now stated it is going to evaluate.

Following the sentencing, Monique McKevitt from the Crown Prosecution Provider, stated Pierce denied what took place when interviewed by means of police, “but if he was once confronted with the overpowering prosecution proof in opposition to him” he pleaded in charge in court docket.

She described the assaults as “gross abuse of accept as true with” by means of any person who was once “entrusted to preside over christenings, funerals, weddings and prayers”.