Abuse lawyer welcomes guilty verdict of former Nine O’Clock Service priest Chris Brain

Former priest Brain was the leader of the evangelical NOS movement, formerly part of the Church of England, in Sheffield between 1986 and 1995.

In a verdict delivered on 20 August 2025, Brain was found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women during the years he led the NOS.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the NOS had been aimed at younger people and presented itself as a progressive force for good, but became a cult in which Brain abused his position as leader to exert control over his female followers.

The court was told that a “homebase team” was created to care for Brain, which he referred to as the “Lycra Lovelies” due to them wearing tight black clothing and lingerie while doing their duties.

During the trial, Brain admitted that some team members gave him late night massages intended for “tensions” in his body, which Brain also conceded could turn into “sensual touching”.

Brain was found not guilty of a further 15 counts of indecent assault, and the jury were unable to reach a verdict over four similar counts and one count of rape.

Responding to news of the guilty verdicts, Leigh Day partner Dino Nocivelli, who specialises in abuse claims, has welcomed accountability being held in the criminal court for abuse by religious leaders in positions of power.

Dino Nocivelli said:

“These verdicts are important in recognising abuse inflicted by religious leaders who use their position of power over their followers. The actions of Christopher Brain across a number of years while he led the Nine O’Clock Service were truly horrific. Throughout this time, he exerted his authority and influence over his followers to inflict them to terrible abuse. I hope that the outcome of this criminal trial is something that can help give his survivors a sense of justice and closure.

“Spiritual abuse is an area of the law where legal definitions are still being developed, but these guilty verdicts represent an important step towards holding abusive leaders to account.”