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| Ex-priest Chris Brain found guilty of 17 indecent assaults | Ex-priest Chris Brain found guilty of 17 indecent assaults |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Chris Brain had stood trial at Inner London Crown Court | Chris Brain had stood trial at Inner London Crown Court |
| A former priest accused of abusing members of a church group he led has been found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women. | A former priest accused of abusing members of a church group he led has been found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women. |
| Chris Brain, 68, was head of the Nine O'Clock Service (NOS), an influential evangelical movement based in Sheffield in the 1980s and 90s. | |
| Brain, of Wilmslow, in Cheshire, was convicted of the charges following a trial at Inner London Crown Court. | Brain, of Wilmslow, in Cheshire, was convicted of the charges following a trial at Inner London Crown Court. |
| He was found not guilty of another 15 charges of indecent assault, while jurors are continuing to deliberate on a further four counts of indecent assault and one charge of rape. | He was found not guilty of another 15 charges of indecent assault, while jurors are continuing to deliberate on a further four counts of indecent assault and one charge of rape. |
| Wearing a black suit and black shirt, Brain showed no emotion as the jury foreman delivered the verdicts. | |
| The jury are expected to return to court on Thursday to continue their deliberations on the remaining counts. | The jury are expected to return to court on Thursday to continue their deliberations on the remaining counts. |
| During the trial, prosecutor Tim Clark KC said some of the women had been sexually abused after being recruited to a so-called "homebase team" charged with looking after Brain and his family. | During the trial, prosecutor Tim Clark KC said some of the women had been sexually abused after being recruited to a so-called "homebase team" charged with looking after Brain and his family. |
| He told the court the group became known among NOS members as the "Lycra lovelies" or the "Lycra nuns" after witnesses reported seeing the defendant surrounded by attractive women in lingerie at his home | He told the court the group became known among NOS members as the "Lycra lovelies" or the "Lycra nuns" after witnesses reported seeing the defendant surrounded by attractive women in lingerie at his home |
| The women were required to carry out household chores at the home he shared with his wife and daughter, the prosecution said, as well as putting him to bed with sexual favours. | The women were required to carry out household chores at the home he shared with his wife and daughter, the prosecution said, as well as putting him to bed with sexual favours. |
| Chris Brain had his ordination as a priest fast-tracked by the Church of England | Chris Brain had his ordination as a priest fast-tracked by the Church of England |
| The NOS began in Sheffield in 1986 and was initially celebrated by Church of England leaders for its nightclub-style services, which attracted hundreds of young people. | The NOS began in Sheffield in 1986 and was initially celebrated by Church of England leaders for its nightclub-style services, which attracted hundreds of young people. |
| By the early 1990s it had moved to the city's Ponds Forge leisure centre due to its popularity. | By the early 1990s it had moved to the city's Ponds Forge leisure centre due to its popularity. |
| However, the NOS was dissolved in 1995 after concerns about Brain's behaviour were raised. | However, the NOS was dissolved in 1995 after concerns about Brain's behaviour were raised. |
| Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. | Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. |