Cult leader Chris Brain abused position to sexually assault ‘staggering number of women’, court hears

The leader of a cult-like evangelical church group abused his position to sexually assault a “staggering number of women from his congregation,” a court has heard.

Chris Brain, 68, was the head of the “very well-known” and “vibrant” Nine O’Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield in the 1980s and 1990s, with services featuring a live band aimed at younger people, a jury was told.

Prosecutor Tim Clark KC told Inner London Crown Court the group presented itself as a “progressive force for good” involved with the local community and in environmental concerns.

But he added: “In truth NOS became a closed and controlled group which the defendant dominated and abused his position first as the leader and then as an ordained priest to sexually assault a staggering number of women from his congregation.”

Former priest Brain, from Wilmslow, in Cheshire, is standing trial accused of committing sexual offences against 13 women. He denies one count of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault between 1981 and 1995.

The court heard Brain, who had led a Christian rock band called Present Tense, became the leader of NOS, named because its services were held at 9pm on Sundays.

The prosecutor said it was a “highly disciplined and professional set up”, with new members vetted and the congregation organised into “Discipleship Groups”.

He said the group “became a cult” with members encouraged to separate themselves from their family and friends and becoming “terrified” of being excluded.

Some contributed large sums of money, with members giving up their inheritances or their homes, while others were described as acting like they were in love with Brain, the court heard.

A “homebase” team of “attractive women”, wearing lingerie or other revealing clothing, known as “the Lycra Lovelies” or “the Lycra Nuns”, was set up to look after Brain, his wife and his daughter at their home, the jury was told.

Mr Clark said when Brain’s ordination was “fast tracked” in 1991 there were “signs of grandiose self-regard”, with large sums of money spent finding the robes worn by actor Robert De Niro in the movie “The Mission” for him to wear at the ceremony.

One alleged victim described Brain as a “predator hiding in plain sight”, who “would pick off women who he viewed as vulnerable”, the court heard.

Jurors were told he allegedly assaulted her after a murder mystery party and again after they had been helping families identify the bodies of loved-ones who died in the Hillsborough disaster.

The prosecutor said Brain admits occasional cuddles between them but denies allegations there was a sexual nature to the contact.

Brain resigned from holy orders in 1995 when allegations about NOS led to “enormous media interest”, the court heard.

Mr Clark said that when Brain was confronted and told it was believed he had abused up to 40 women, he replied: “I thought it was more.”

Prosecutors say the women on the 37-count indictment did not consent to sexual activity, with any capacity they had to consent removed by the “cult-like domineering nature” of Brain’s control over them.

“He was the central figure in a cult, he decided the rules, he designed the punishments. The defendant knew, as perhaps no one else in NOS knew, that these women feared ostracization more than anything,” said Mr Clark.

The court heard Brain accepts he engaged in sexual activity with some of the complainants, but says it was with the women’s consent, and told police that NOS was not a cult.

Mr Clark said: “In short, the defence case appears to be, to quote from The Life Of Brian, Brian Cohen’s mother, ‘He’s not the Messiah, he’s just a very naughty boy’.

“The Crown state it was more than that, the defendant created the atmosphere that allowed him to abuse a series of women.”

Wearing a short sleeved purple shirt and glasses, Brain sat in the dock looking at documents as the prosecutor opened the case.

Judge Freya Newbury earlier warned the jury of nine men and three women some of the evidence may “upset or perhaps even revolt you or touch a nerve”.

She added: “Any emotion you feel really needs to be put to one side while you focus on your crucial work as a jury.”

The trial, which is expected to last around eight weeks, continues.