Former Swansea vicar who sexually abused teen boy sentenced

A former Swansea vicar who once christened his victim has been sentenced for indecent assault.

Anthony Pierce, 84, started sexually abusing his teenage victim when he came to the Holy Cross Church, in West Cross, to practice on the piano and organ.

The victim was 14 years old when the abuse began.

Today at Swansea Crown Court Pierce was sentenced to four years and one months' imprisonment and ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. He had previously pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989.

In the years that followed, the victim avoided his abuser but when he eventually encountered him, Pierce acted as if nothing had happened.

The assaults were reported to police in 2023 and Pierce was arrested in October that same year.

Monique McKevitt, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was a gross abuse of trust by a vicar. Anthony Pierce was a man entrusted to preside over christenings, funerals, weddings and prayers. Yet he opportunistically preyed on a young boy who would simply come to his church in the hope that he could practice on the piano or organ.

“The victim, then a child, was subjected to sexually assaults by Pierce and the trauma of what happened has lived with him for many years.

“In police interview Pierce denied what happened more than 35 years ago – but when he was faced with the overwhelming prosecution evidence against him, he admitted his crimes in court.

“The Crown Prosecution Service is absolutely committed to bringing sexual predators to justice regardless of the time that has passed since the offending took place.

“I hope this prosecution provides some comfort to the victim and encourages others who have been subjected to sexual abuse to come forward in the knowledge that they will be listened to.”