Christopher Brain convicted of five more sexual offences

Christopher Brain was found guilty in a second trial of one assault and four sexual-assault charges, bringing his total convictions to 22 offences against 13 women, according to reports of the verdict. The former Church of England priest was remanded in custody, with sentencing to take place at a later date. Brain, 69, led the Nine O’Clock Service, an evangelical movement based in Sheffield that was part of the Church of England, from 1986 to 1995. A jury previously convicted him of 17 indecent assaults against nine women. The second jury’s verdicts followed a retrial in which women whose allegations were addressed in the earlier case gave evidence again. The court heard that Brain acknowledged sexual activity with female members of the service but maintained it was consensual. He also denied that the conduct amounted to abuse in a 1995 television programme, according to testimony described in court reports. Prosecutors argued that he used his position as leader and later as a priest to manipulate and sexually abuse women in the congregation.