Fresh allegations against former bishop jailed for sex attacks

Police are investigating fresh allegations against a former bishop who was jailed last year for sexually abusing a boy.

Anthony Pierce, 85, who was Bishop of Swansea and Brecon between 1999 and 2008, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16.

South Wales Police has confirmed three further reports of offences - made after he was jailed for four years and one month - have been received which date between the 1970s and 80s.

Det Insp Tom Richardson said the force believes there may be more victims out there and has urged them to come forward.

Pierce was jailed for sexually abusing a boy while he was a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea, last year between 1985 and 1990.

The three new reports remain under investigation, police said.

In February, the BBC revealed separate allegations of sexual abuse made against Pierce, involving a 15-year-old boy, were covered up by the Church in Wales.

The allegations were reported to senior figures in the Church in 1993, but were only reported to police in 2010.

The victim had died by then, and no further action was taken.

The alleged victim's mother Brenda, not her real name, told BBC Wales: "The only person who believed him was me... it was dismissed. He had no trust in the system."

On the calls for potential victims of Pierce's to come forward, Det Insp Richardson said: "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 that since Pierce's conviction and sentencing police had "received reports from three people who have taken that first step in coming forward".

"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.