A MAN accused of being the leader of a quasi-religious sex cult in Kidwelly has denied any knowledge of a document seeming to suggest there is nothing wrong with rape.

The document — a typed commentary on a text called the Book of the Law — was found during a house search after 48-year-old Colin Batley was arrested last year.

He was questioned about it during his third day in the witness box at Swansea Crown Court, where he is one of five people from Clos yr Onnen, Kidwelly, who deny sex offences against children.

Prosecutor Peter Murphy referred to the document in cross-examination and asked Batley about a passage stating: "The sex instinct must not be restricted . . . some of the most passionate and permanent attachments have begun with rape."

But the defendant claimed never to have seen it, adding: "Rape is wrong."

He admitted producing laminated copies of parts of the Book of the Law, but said he had done this at the request of his wife.

Batley said it was not true that he had told one of the complainants in the case that she had to endure "ordeals" to get to a place called The Palace and that if she disobeyed rules she would go to a place called The Abyss.

He also denied sending the witness in question to work as a prostitute.

There are not guilty pleas to an indictment comprising more than 40 charges — and the case involves five alleged victims, who cannot be named. Batley, who faces multiple charges of rape, buggery and possessing child pornography, is also accused of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and indecent assault.

His female co-accused are his wife Elaine Batley, 47, Jacqueline Marling, 42, Sandra Iveson, 45, and Shelly Millar, 35.

Elaine Batley and Millar face charges of gross indecency and sexual activity with a child, while Iveson also faces a charge of gross indecency.

Marling is accused, with Colin Batley, of "causing prostitution", while Marling is further accused of sexual activity with a child, gross indecency and aiding and abetting a rape alleged to have been committed by him.

A sixth defendant, not said to be part of the cult, is Vincent Barden, 70, of Kempston, Bedfordshire, accused of one charge of rape when allegedly aided and abetted by Colin Batley. The case continues.