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. 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.

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. The court heard that 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. (BBC)