Former cult leader Christopher Brain found guilty of rape

Christopher Brain, 69, has been found guilty of rape and four indecent assaults following a retrial at Inner London Crown Court. The verdicts were delivered by a jury on Friday. Brain previously faced 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women, to which he was convicted last August.

The convictions relate to Brain's leadership of the Sheffield-based evangelical movement, the Nine O’Clock Service (NOS), which was active between 1986 and 1995. Prosecutors described the group as effectively a cult, where Brain wielded significant power and created a 'culture of fear and dependency'.

Abuse of power

Senior Crown Prosecutor Julie Moss stated that Brain engaged in a 'disturbing campaign of manipulation and abuse'. She explained that he isolated followers from friends and family, made them financially and emotionally dependent, and convinced them that resistance to his sexual advances was a personal or spiritual failing. 'This was not consent. It was forced submission, caused by the culture of fear and dependency Brain had deliberately created,' Ms Moss said.

The Nine O’Clock Service was founded by Brain and operated from St Thomas’s Church in Sheffield before moving to the Ponds Forge area. It was known for its 9pm Sunday services featuring live music and light shows, attracting university students and young adults. At its peak, the movement had around 500 members.

Brain, a former member of the Christian rock group Present Tense, resigned as a priest in 1995 when allegations of his conduct first emerged. He had admitted sexual activity with followers in a 1995 BBC One documentary, but claimed it was for 'closeness and affection' and not abuse.

Sentencing and victim statements

Judge Freya Newbury will sentence Brain at a later date. The court heard that victim impact statements will be heard during the sentencing hearing, which is expected to last two days. Brain was remanded in custody following the guilty verdicts.

The total number of sexual offences for which Brain has now been convicted stands at 22, against 13 women. Ms Moss paid tribute to the 'immense bravery' of the women who gave evidence, stating their courage was 'central to securing these convictions'.