Former 'Cult' Leader Accused of Sexual Assault and Financial Coercion

A former leader of the Nine O'Clock Services in Sheffield, Chris Brain, is facing retrial for a series of sexual offenses allegedly committed against worshippers between 1983 and 1995. Brain, who previously was convicted of attacks on women, denies all charges.

During the trial at Inner London Crown Court, a woman, identified only for legal reasons, testified that she was "coerced" into giving naked massages to Brain, describing the experience as terrifying. She stated she felt she had no choice but to comply, influenced by Brain's teachings and the surrounding community's veneration of him as "the mouthpiece of God." She recounted being summoned to Brain's bedroom, where she would undress and have her breasts fondled, while he often had an erection.

The woman also testified that Brain's "controlling" behavior pressured her and her then-husband into selling their family home for £8,000 in the early 1980s, with the proceeds going to the church. Following the sale, the couple began living with Brain in Sheffield and were discouraged from maintaining contact with their families, as the church was presented as their primary family.

She described a strict regimen imposed by Brain and his inner circle regarding diet, exercise, and clothing for young women. Furthermore, she recounted an incident in the 1990s where she and her husband were ostracized during a luxury holiday to the Canary Islands because her baby daughter was wearing a hat that Brain disapproved of. This shunning, which lasted for the duration of the trip, led her to decide to leave the church upon their return to the UK.

In a video-recorded police interview played to the court, the woman described her massages with Brain as "troubled," though she initially believed they would bring her closer to God. She admitted to not wanting to perform the massages but felt compelled to comply to remain part of the group. "I wanted to be involved and included and belong but I was a really inexperienced girl, I had no sexual experience at all," she stated. She added, "I was kind of relying on him (Brain) - he told me I was part of the problem - to put that right. I wanted to be 'right,' I allowed it. You could argue that I wanted it. But I didn't really."

Reflecting on her experiences, she expressed a wish never to have met Brain, stating, "I was treated appallingly. It was only because I've got a very strong mind that I didn't buckle under, really." She also recalled being terrified that God would "shoot the plane out of the sky" if she tried to leave the church due to her perceived sins.

Brain, 69, is accused of raping one woman and indecently assaulting three others between 1983 and 1995. He denies all charges. His retrial is ongoing.