‘Cult leader' admits to getting sensual back massages from ‘nuns' during trial
Christopher Brain, 68, is accused of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault against 13 women when he led the Nine O'Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield.
The evangelical priest allegedly surrounded himself with women in lingerie – dubbed the Lycra Lovelies or Lycra Nuns – who would put him to bed, a court heard.
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.
On Monday, 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.
The trial continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Shocking cancer twist for family of glamorous bikini designer found dead on New York yacht after Irish family called for second post-mortem
Claims that a glamorous bikini designer who was found dead on a New York yacht was suffering with brain cancer are being investigated by detectives in a shocking twist to the family. It comes after the body of 33-year-old Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra was found on board a ritzy Hamptons yacht last week after she had a meeting with an American insurance tycoon on the evening of August 4. After the initial post-mortem failed to yield a cause of death, the grief-stricken family travelled from Ireland to the U.S. to demand a second-opinion autopsy. But during a telephone call in the days following Martha's death, it is understood that her mother was asked by detectives about claims that her daughter had brain cancer. The fashionista's mother, Elma, who kept close contact with her daughter on an almost daily basis, was astounded by the claims and told detectives her daughter was 'perfectly healthy', the Irish Independent reported. 'She told them there was nothing of the sort [affecting her],' a source said. It is not known who disclosed the information to the detectives. The night before she died, the swimwear brand founder is understood to have headed to the luxury Montauk Yacht Club to speak with 60-year-old insurance mogul, Christopher Durnan. But the evening ended in horror when the American business man dashed down the dock naked around midnight screaming for help and indicating that Martha had passed out. Bystanders dialed 911 and clambered on board the boat named Ripple to try and perform CPR on the self-made entrepreneur, but she was declared dead at the scene by first responders. U.S. detectives have said an initial post-mortem examination 'did not show evidence of violence and her final cause of death is pending further investigation'. Sources have told the Daily Mail that Martha likely succumbed to a suspected drug overdose - of cocaine or other narcotics. It comes after photographs taken the next morning on the plush yacht revealed a dusting of mysterious white powder across a seat on the 50ft cabin-cruiser. The grief-stricken family of the fashion founder have travelled from Ireland to the U.S. to demand a second-opinion autopsy into her cause of death. They have engaged a top lawyer in the U.S. - whose client list includes Harvey Weinstein and former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon - to discover what happened to the blonde, blue-eyed woman. The final post-mortem report, which will include toxicological, histological and other testing, which will take at least three months to conclude. The family's lawyer, criminal defence attorney Arthur Aidala, said they had met with Suffolk County homicide detectives who were conducting a thorough investigation, and that people are still being questioned. 'There is still a very intense investigation focused on why a young woman is dead,' he said, reported the Irish Independent. 'The autopsy report did show that there was no signs of a struggle, no defensive wounds on her hands, no obvious signs of trauma. 'The medical examiner is really focusing now on her blood and the other fluids that are being sent to toxicology to see what's going on. 'There were rumours that she possibly had some form of brain cancer and that is being investigated as well.' Martha's body is currently being held by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office. Once the second-opinion autopsy has concluded, it is understood that her body will be embalmed and repatriated to Ireland. Durnan - a guitar-playing widower linked to several boats named after Grateful Dead songs - is believed to have invested more than $200,000 in the Irish beauty's bikini boutique. The tycoon, who founded Durnan Group in 1981, specialising in workers' compensation insurance, did not respond to calls and texts from the Daily Mail asking for comment. As of Monday this week, Ripple was no longer moored at Montauk Yacht Club, a 16-acre Star Island resort that boasts slips for 200 boats and hotel-style amenities including a tennis court and two pools. According to local sources, a crew arrived at dawn last Friday to sail it away. A second vessel said to belong to Durnan – a five-engine powerboat named Hell In a Bucket, another nod to the Grateful Dead – departed the club the previous night, the source added. The dad-of-two is believed to split his time between a five-bed, $6million mansion in Long Beach, New York, and an equally plush residence in Lantana, near Palm Beach, Florida. Daily Mail can reveal he suffered a devastating personal tragedy in 2018 when his wife Marie died unexpectedly at age 49. Marie was described as a loving wife, dedicated mom and 'adored aunt to 23 nieces and nephews' in a glowing obituary notice. The cause of her death was not disclosed. Martha had spoken to her boyfriend - who was out of town when the tragedy unfolded - just hours before she died, assuring him she was going to book an Uber and would be home at around 1 am. Nolan-O'Slatarra was previously revealed to have been in the middle of uncontested divorce proceedings from her husband but she had been dating boyfriend 34-year-old sales exec Nicholas DiRubio It is understood that the blonde, blue-eyed designer and 34-year-old sales exec Nicholas DiRubio had been staying in the Montauk area for the summer. Reached by telephone, DiRubio, a handsome former college football player, broke down before recovering his composure and saying: 'No comment, have a good day.' The fashion entrepreneur lived an enviable life in Manhattan's Upper East Side, posting TikToks of herself sipping champagne, taking private jets and trips on helicopters with her boyfriend, who the Irish Independent said she planned to marry. She had finalised her uncontested divorce from ex-husband Sam Ryan in April, according to court documents filed in New York Supreme Court. Ambitious from a young age, she studied commerce at University College Dublin before completing a master's in digital marketing from the Smurfit Graduate School of Business. 'Carlow is a small town, I was the small-town girl who needed to get out to achieve her big dreams,' Martha said in an interview with the Irish Independent last year. 'I always knew I wanted to be successful, that I was money-driven, business-driven – and that fashion is a tough industry and it would be a slow road.' She worked in Ireland until 2015 before moving to the U.S., where she founded several companies, including fashion accessories brand Duper and luxury swimwear label East x East. Martha's Irish relatives have spoken of their devastation and disbelief that she failed to get home safely. 'I feel numb and in shock,' her shattered mom Elma Nolan told the outlet last week. 'My younger daughter, Jacqui, arrived on Tuesday night and she was crying and shaking. 'She said: "I have terrible news, Martha's dead."' Violent crimes are unusual in Montauk, known for its monstrous mansions, high-end dining and historic lighthouse. Influencers and celebrities flock there, particularly in the summer months, for its opulent social scene. A spokesperson for the Montauk Yacht Club - founded 1928 - added: 'We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident that took place. 'Our team is cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and remains committed to the safety and well-being of our guests and staff.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
I made end-of-life checklist after doctor's chilling warning – I'm not afraid of dying anymore, says Davina McCall
WHEN a surgeon warned Davina McCall her brain tumour was a ticking time-bomb, the 57-year-old feared death was imminent as she braced for emergency surgery. Convinced she wouldn't make it off the operating table, the Masked Singer star was driven to make an end-of-life checklist, which she now says turned her traumatic experience into "the best gift". 8 8 In an emotionally frank interview, Davina admits spiralling into denial about the benign tumour that was discovered by chance - only taking action four months after her diagnosis. The turning point came after hearing from her fourth neurosurgeon, who gave her the "wake-up call" she needed by sternly telling Davina she would die if she didn't act quickly, adding: 'It's a big tumour. It can't grow anymore, or you'll get water on the brain. If you're on a plane, there would have to be an emergency landing.' Breaking down in tears at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival at Gunnersby Park, Davina said: "I needed to get my brain in the right place where I could be calm before the operation. "I had to make sure that my kids were going to be OK if I did not make it. That is all I really cared about. "I knew my partner, Michael, would be OK as he is a whole person, but I was really worried about my kids." Davina has been dating celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas since separating from her former husband Matthew Robertson in 2017, calling him her "soulmate" during her brain tumour battle. The mum of three who shares Holly, 23, Tilly, 21, and 18-year-old Chester with her ex added: "I went into forensic thinking about my children and where they were at in their life, what stage they were at. "You are only happy as your unhappiest child. "But I realised that they would be great, they would miss me, and I want to be with them, but they would be fine. "I felt I could go to sleep on the operating table and know that they were all here to help me, but I can let go of the outcome, and it was the best gift." Beaming Davina McCall reveals she's got all clear from brain tumour after life-saving surgery In the end, her checklist came down to finding peace in the fact that her loved ones would survive without her. Coming to terms with death has changed Davina's life for the better, she says - despite getting the all clear after the 14mm wide colloid cyst was removed in November 2024. She says: "They had said it was a benign brain tumour and for four months I thought 'that's fine. No need to do anything about it. I have had it since I was born.' "I couldn't understand why I'd have an operation when I didn't have any symptoms. 8 8 "But after the operation, I was aware of a noise in my head, and they were thoughts. I realised I did not have that before. Now I wake up and wonder why the grass is green, and now I think of the most random things. "I needed someone to tell me what to do, and my American doctor told me I should undergo surgery to have the tumour cut out. "When I got the phone call, although it was a hard one to hear, I needed it." And in a controversial statement, the mum of three claims her brain surgery is "the best thing to ever happen to me". "I am not afraid of dying anymore," Davina continued. "It was the biggest journey of my life. "It was an amazing time. 8 8 "I would not change anything. Without sounding arrogant, I now love myself. "I have been on a massive life journey, and I have been through terrible struggles. That is where the learning comes from. "If something really hard happens now, I know it is a good thing. "I said to Michael, 'If I make it through this brain surgery, it is going to be the best thing that has ever happened to me'. "The learning that I have made in the past two years has been so immense and enriching. I would not change it for the world. "Obviously, when it happened, it was like a calamity, but to not be afraid of disasters, that will make you a better person." Now Davina says she wants to help others on their deathbed with her Begin Again podcast, a show dedicated to empowering people to embrace midlife as their most transformative era yet. Davina's guests - including famous faces and industry experts - share stories of growth and rediscovery. She says: "Midlife is not the start of the end; instead, it's the perfect opportunity and time to Begin Again", says Davina about her podcast, and added: "It has been a wake-up call. We have a wake-up call, and we are here. "A couple of people say I look so well, but it is because I am in a happy place. "My happy place is now with people I love, with Michael, our kids, our families - probably in a karaoke bar or Ibiza or with people I love with music and dancing. "I feel free. We were listening to Florence and the Machine the other day, and that song Free with everybody dancing. That, for me, with people you love, that is my drug of choice. "Now I want everyone to be able to say 'I have lived the life I wanted' and not think things like 'I wish I had not done that job. I wished I had not stayed in this relationship'."
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Russell Watson reveals he contemplated jumping from hotel balcony in suicide bid amid agonising brain tumour battle
RUSSELL Watson revealed he briefly considered ending his life after being diagnosed with his first brain tumour. The opera singer, 58, was recording an album in Los Angeles in 2006 when he paid a visit to Cedars-Sinai Hospital after suffering excruciating headaches. 3 3 Russell had been experiencing them for months and on his flight to the States was in so much pain he was convinced he was going to die. An MRI scan revealed a pituitary tumour - later found to be benign - the size of two golf balls that required emergency surgery. Speaking on Kaye Adams' How To Be 60 podcast, he said: "My whole world came crashing down and the pain got worse – everything was exacerbated with the news of what he'd just told me. "I was staying in a hotel in Beverly Hills and I was on the 8th floor and it was the first time I'd ever felt this way. "I can't explain the pain – I've never felt anything like it before or since – it was like a dagger being pressed into the centre of my head and twisted. "It was excruciating and for one moment I stood on my hotel balcony. I literally just thought: 'f**k this, I've had enough.' And I felt like jumping." Fortunately, his mind drifted to his family and he didn't go through with it. He continued: "And then the thought of the children entered my head and they were little girls then - they're not going to manage without me. Back in the room. Went and lay on the bed, rinsed my face with cold water and took the pain on." Russell branded himself an "idiot" for staying in LA to complete his record before returning to the UK for a five-hour surgery at St George's Hospital, London. The classical singer was determined to finish the album that he felt at the time might be his legacy record were he to die. The impacts of the tumour, which was removed through his nose, are still felt to this day. Russell explained: "I'll be taking a lifetime of replacement drugs and hormones for as long as I'm here, predominantly to my pituitary gland which was pretty much decimated, so there's a constant reminder. "I have to take daily injections and tablets, particularly hydrocortisone, which I was told if I didn't take for a specific amount of time I wouldn't be here anymore. It's the lifesaving drug for me and growth hormones." In 2007, disaster struck again when a regrowth of the tumour stopped Russell in his tracks while he was making another album. Help for mental health If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123 CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate). Heads Together, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. Once again he needed emergency surgery, this time at Alexandra Hospital, Greater Manchester. It was followed by radiotherapy as part of his rehabilitation. Last November, Russell broke down in tears on The One Show when he received a video message from the consultant who had looked after him. Mr Lackett told him: "17 years on from that brave decision to have the surgery and look what a glittering career you've had in-between. "I can't tell you how much the team and I were so proud to watch you and your progress after that awful night when you were taken into hospital as an emergency." Emotional Russell responded by telling the hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp: "Oh deary me, what a man. And so lovely as well, so down to earth. Just a beautiful human being. "I will be eternally grateful to him." 3 Symptoms of a benign brain tumour A benign brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows relatively slowly in the brain. Benign means it in not cancerous. Non-cancerous brain tumours tend to stay in one place and do not spread. Some slow-growing tumours may not cause any symptoms at first. When symptoms occur, it's because the tumour is putting pressure on the brain and preventing a specific area of the brain from working properly. As the tumour grows and increases pressure in the skull, you might experience: New, persistent headaches that are sometimes worse in the morning or when bending over or coughing Feeling sick all the time Drowsiness Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision, loss of part of your visual field and temporary vision loss Epileptic seizures that may affect the whole body, or you may just have a twitch in one area See a GP if you develop any of these symptoms. They'll examine you and ask about your symptoms. If they suspect you may have a tumour or are not sure what's causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a brain and nerve specialist for further investigation. Source: NHS
