Former priest who exploited spiritual authority to abuse victims convicted of further offences

A former Church of England priest has been convicted of several sexual offences, including rape, following a successful retrial at Inner London Crown Court.

Chris Brain, 69, founded and led the infamous ‘Nine O’Clock Service’, an alternative religious movement based out of Sheffield in the 80s and 90s which combined rave culture with Christian worship.

Last year, a jury found Brain guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine victims who were members of the Service. Today he was found guilty of further offences against more victims including four counts of indecent assault and one of rape.

Working with South Yorkshire Police, the Crown Prosecution Service proved that Brain used his position of spiritual authority to control, isolate and sexually abuse women he had made dependent on his approval.

Witness testimony described how Brain created an environment in which members were encouraged to separate themselves from family and friends, give up their finances, and place loyalty to the Service, and Brain himself, above their own needs and relationships.

Victims repeatedly spoke of how they felt unable to resist Brain’s abuse for fear of being ostracised if they challenged him. The prosecution’s case was that Brain created a ‘cult’ in which the young women he targeted were made so emotionally reliant on his approval that they could not freely consent to his sexual advances.

The court also heard that Brain had a so-called “homebase” team - a group of mainly young women who were required to care for him at his home, including attending on him before he went to sleep. Members of the homebase team were told they were there to protect Brain from those said to be undermining his work. One victim described how Brain also controlled who members of the homebase team could have relationships and friendships with outside the group.

Throughout the original trial and retrial, Brain repeatedly denied the allegations. He insisted the Nine O’Clock Service was not a cult, and that members were free to come and go as they chose. He accepted sexual contact with some witnesses but maintained that it was always consensual.

Chris Brain will be sentenced for all 22 counts at a date to be set at Inner London Crown Court.

Julie Moss, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside said: “For years Chris Brain embarked on a disturbing campaign of manipulation and abuse – intimidating Service members and isolating them from their friends and family to ultimately satisfy his sexual desires.

“Brain framed the Nine O’Clock Service as a progressive force for good, engaged with the local community and involved in environmental concerns. He presented himself as a spiritual leader and a ‘man of God’, who existed to guide and mentor his followers.

“However, behind the mask was a man who was repeatedly abusing several young members of his Service. Victims were isolated from their loved ones, made financially and emotionally dependent on the group, and made to believe that resistance to Brain’s sexual advances reflected their own personal or spiritual failings.

“This was not consent. It was forced submission, caused by the culture of fear and dependency Brain had deliberately created.

“Today’s result would not have been possible without the immense bravery of the women who came forward and gave evidence about the deeply traumatic abuse they suffered. Their courage has been central to securing these convictions and today I pay tribute to them.”