Police investigate sex abuse claims against men linked to Church

A convicted bishop and a former vicar of the Church in Wales are being investigated by detectives over allegations of historic sexual abuse, the BBC can reveal.

4 individuals have advised BBC Wales Investigates about abuse being ignored on the crisis-hit Church and have referred to as for an impartial inquiry.

Former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon Anthony Pierce, jailed for child sexual abuse earlier this 12 months, faces contemporary historic intercourse abuse allegations whereas a former vicar can also be being investigated by South Wales Police.

The Church in Wales mentioned it was “profoundly sorry” and apologised to “anybody who has suffered or been let down by failings.”

Warning: This story comprises graphic descriptions of sexual assault

The BBC investigation discovered issues about Pierce have been reported to Church officers in 1986 – 13 years earlier than he turned Bishop of Swansea and Brecon – however nothing was finished.

One sufferer has waived his proper to anonymity to talk out and questions how a “predator” was allowed to develop into a Bishop when critical issues had been raised about him.

It’s the newest controversy to hit the Church in Wales after the Archbishop of Wales retired last month after two critical reports highlighted safeguarding issues the place “sexual boundaries appeared blurred” at his north Wales diocese of Bangor.

Individuals who sang with the Bangor Cathedral choir additionally mentioned there had been a “binge drinking culture”.

Though there isn’t any suggestion the previous archbishop behaved inappropriately, the church’s consultant physique mentioned there should be a “change in management, procedures and governance within the diocese of Bangor”.

BBC Wales has been advised the present police investigation is trying into historic sexual abuse allegations in opposition to Pierce, in addition to a former vicar of the Church in Wales.

Three alleged victims, from throughout Wales whose allegations span many years, have mentioned they need an impartial inquiry into the Church in Wales abuse.

Alisdair Adams was 18 and at College Faculty Swansea, now Swansea College, when he first met Pierce who was a parish priest within the metropolis within the Eighties.

“He invited me to his home for dinner to see how we may work collectively and gave me plenty of white wine and no meals,” mentioned Alisdair, now 59.

Alisdair mentioned Pierce moved to take a seat on the arm of the couch earlier than the lights went out out of the blue.

“He grabbed me and pulled me into him and held me tightly,” he added. “I may really feel his erect penis via his brown nylon trousers.”

Alisdair mentioned he left instantly and reported the incident to a Methodist minister.

He mentioned he was invited to talk to the Anglican campus chaplain and mentioned two different college students have been interviewed that day about Pierce.

Mark Dickey-Collas, who was additionally interviewed, mentioned he was additionally invited to Pierce’s home and provided alcohol earlier than the lights went out and Pierce got here onto him.

Mark mentioned the chaplain reported his issues to the Church and Pierce was banned from campus and college halls.

The Church in Wales mentioned it was not conscious of the report however confirmed it was endeavor enquiries into the way it responded on the time.

Pierce continued as a priest and labored as chaplain at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital.

He turned Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in 1999, and met the then Prince Charles, now King Charles, whereas he was on a go to to Swansea in 2002.

Pierce admitted 5 costs of indecent assault in opposition to a boy beneath the age of 16 between 1985 and 1990 and was sentenced to 4 years and one month in March.

“I am dumbfounded as to why this man with allegations swirling round him in 1985 and 1986 was allowed to be employed by the church,” Alisdair mentioned.

“They usually promoted him to Bishop. He was a predator and we have been the prey and the Church did nothing about it.”

The Church is presently holding a evaluate into claims “senior figures” have been conscious of a separate allegation of abuse in opposition to Pierce in 1993 which was not handed to police till 2010.

After changing into Bishop, Pierce was in final cost of Church safeguarding in his diocese.

Ruth, not her actual identify, mentioned critical allegations she made a few choirmaster weren’t acted on by Pierce.

She says Brecon Cathedral choirmaster David Gedge assaulted her on a choir change to Eire in 2001 when she was 17 years previous.

“He urged we go for a stroll,” mentioned Ruth, who was a chorister on the cathedral.

“He held my arm and turned me spherical and kissed me. In that second I felt simply sort of shattered.”

“He put his hand beneath my high and was touching me. He talked about his spouse and as he was speaking about this his fingers have been transferring and he put his fingers down my trousers and into my pants.

“All of this was occurring while I used to be actually frozen.”

She mentioned she was scared to report the abuse initially, however ultimately did two years later to attempt to shield different choristers.

Pierce was Bishop of Swansea and Brecon on the time – and Ruth says he did nothing.

The Church in Wales admitted there was no file of motion in opposition to Mr Gedge in 2003 and any choices in regards to the case would have been made by Pierce.

Mr Gedge continued to work with youngsters within the choir for 4 years earlier than retiring.

“Anthony Pierce didn’t abuse me, however he allowed my abuse to go unaccounted for and for my abuser to have many extra alternatives to do the identical factor,” mentioned Ruth.

“I do not know what number of different individuals are with out justice as a result of Anthony Pierce stopped their case from transferring ahead – possibly to guard his buddies, possibly to take the eyes off him.”

Ruth mentioned she went to the police in 2012 after the dearth of motion by the Church.

BBC Wales Investigates has seen police paperwork that say Mr Gedge admitted holding Ruth’s hand, taking her for a stroll and speaking to her about intimate particulars of his life however he denied assaulting her.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in Eire mentioned there seemed to be substance to Ruth’s allegations however it was unlikely a prosecution would achieve success.

Mr Gedge was prevented from holding any position within the Church after 2012. He died in 2016.

Former priest Graham Sawyer was working in Pontypool, Torfaen, in 2002, when he raised issues about Darren Jenkins, a youth chief and lay reader – somebody who can preach and take providers.

“I used to be anxious in regards to the inappropriate touching,” he mentioned. “It did not seem sexual, it was hugging.”

As a former sexual abuse sufferer himself, Graham tried to boost the alarm.

“I used to be advised that I ought to be very cautious or I might find yourself in courtroom,” he mentioned.

He mentioned he went to the police after he turned involved on the lack of motion by the Church in Wales and left Pontypool for Australia.

Jenkins was jailed in 2006 for raping a 16-year-old boy five times.

Graham mentioned circumstances like Pierce’s present “the tradition has not modified”.

“Every time there’s an issue, they may shut ranks and ignore. If that does not work, they’d assault you with nice ferocity,” he mentioned.

The Church in Wales is a separate physique to the Church of England and each have separate safeguarding departments to guard susceptible individuals together with youngsters.

Graham has written to Welsh politicians urging them to name on the Senedd to carry an impartial inquiry.

The Church in Wales has been topic to 2 impartial safeguarding reviews so far – the Historic Instances Evaluation in 2009 and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) which began in 2014.

Justin Welby stepped down as the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2024 after a damning report right into a prolific little one abuser related to the Church of England.

An IICSA panel member has questioned if the Church in Wales has finished sufficient since that report and thought there ought to be an exterior evaluate into the Church.

“We did make it very clear that there have been numerous important gaps and operational shortcomings,” Prof Sir Malcolm Evans mentioned.

“However there would not appear to have been a broad-ranging dialogue as to the longer term in Wales as there was within the Church of England. What we now want is that degree of dialogue, reflection, and motion.”

The Church in Wales has apologised and mentioned an exterior safeguarding audit of all cathedrals in Wales can be commissioned in addition to a evaluate into its tradition.

“There isn’t any place within the Church for abuse, misconduct or concealment,” a spokesman mentioned.

“We’re decided that the problems recognized shall be totally addressed and practices improved so that every one church members, and the broader society, can trust that the church is, accurately, a secure and supportive surroundings for all.”

The Church added its complaints dealing with course of is now extra impartial, skilled and strong and it’s dedicated to steady enchancment.

For info and assist about any points raised on this story contact the BBC Action Line

Further reporting by Michela Riva