A Church of England priest has been found guilty of sexual offences against nine women after starting a cult for attractive women to service him.
Christopher Brain, 68, was the leader of the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS), part of the Church of England, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, between 1986 and 1995.
He was found guilty by a jury at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday of 17 counts of indecent assault during the years he led the movement.
The jury cleared him of 15 counts of indecent assault and are still deliberating on four counts of indecent assault and one of rape.
Brain appeared unmoved in the dock as the verdicts were read out.
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Prosecutors previously told jurors that the NOS group was aimed at younger people and ‘presented itself to the outside world as a progressive force for good’.
They said NOS became a cult in which Brain abused his position to exert control over the lives of his female followers and ostracised them from friends and family.
The evangelical priest allegedly surrounded himself with women in lingerie – dubbed the Lycra Lovelies or Lycra Nuns – who would put him to bed.
NOS was aimed at 18 to 30-year-olds and shaped by the rave culture. Brain would wear the same cassock worn by Robert De Niro in the film The Mission for the ceremony.
However, prosecutors said the service became a cult where Brain would abuse his position to sexually assault a ‘staggering number’ of women, exerting control over their lives and ostracising them from friends and family.
Tim Clark, KC, accused Brain of grooming the women, touching them and re-enacting a film scene involving rape or sexual abuse over clothes.
The court heard Brain told jurors that the accusations against him were ‘completely untrue’ and that the women taking part wore clothes that reflected the fashions of the time.
He said rather than him telling them what to wear, they were just fashion conscious.
Defence lawyer Iain Simkin KC asked him why he received massages from women. He responded: ‘I just did. Why not?’
He added that some massages would become sensual, but it was between friends so was ‘no big deal’.
Brain also said that any touching of breasts during massages was consensual and that he would not touch anyone sexually if they were uncomfortable with it.
When asked whether people were awestruck by him, Brain acknowledged that ‘some people were desperate to be in [his] company’ – but insisted he never exploited that admiration.
Turning to questions of him starting a cult, he denied this saying that those involved were ‘completely anti-cult’.
He also rejected allegations of being a ‘controlling maniac’ and making members obey him for his sexual desires.
Jurors will return to court at 10am on Thursday to continue deliberations.
