Vicar found guilty of indecent assault

A former priest who led the Nine O Clock Service in Sheffield has been found guilty on 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women.

Vicar who led NOS cult found guilty of indecent assault

A former priest who led the Nine O Clock Service in Sheffield during the 1980s and 1990s has been found guilty of indecent assault on nine women. Prosecutors described the group as a cult and said Brain built a circle of followers who served him and were kept separate from friends and family. He faced charges including rape and multiple counts of indecent assault. He was acquitted on 15 charges, and the jury is still deliberating on a rape count and four additional indecent assault charges. The trial noted Brain received praise from the Archbishop of Canterbury as NOS drew hundreds of young congregants before the movement collapsed amid the accusations.

This verdict lays bare how charismatic leadership can blur the line between spiritual guidance and exploitation. When a group isolates members from outside ties and shreds personal boundaries, victims are left without easy routes to safety or redress. The case also tests how faith communities balance tradition with accountability, and how safeguarding reforms translate into real protection for vulnerable people.

The outcome may push religious bodies, courts, and safeguarding bodies to tighten rules around group dynamics, disclosures, and transparency. It is a reminder that healing must come without sacrifice of consent or autonomy, and that justice is a crucial part of rebuilding trust in communities.

Highlights

Powerful testimony can empower communities to demand safer spaces in faith settings.