FOUR members of a quasi-religious cult in Carmarthenshire are facing substantial jail sentences after being found guilty of serious sex offences against children.

They were convicted yesterday after a five-week trial at Swansea Crown Court.

The four — all from Clos yr Onnen, Kidwelly — are Colin Batley, 48, his wife Elaine Batley, 47, Jacqueline Marling, 42, and Shelly Millar, 35.

A fifth alleged cult member — Sandra Iveson, 45 — walked free from court after being cleared of indecency with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The other defendant in the case, Vincent Barden — a 70-year-old from Bedfordshire not said to have been part of the cult — was cleared of raping a young girl he has admitted indecently assaulting.

Colin and Elaine Batley, Marling, Millar and Barden are due to be sentenced tomorrow by Judge Paul Thomas QC.

The five had to be dealt with for extremely serious offences, said the judge, and each was facing a substantial prison sentence.

The verdicts were announced yesterday afternoon after the jury of six men and six women had spent 21 hours discussing the evidence since last Thursday.

The trial followed a Dyfed-Powys Police investigation into a Kidwelly paedophile ring.

Detectives uncovered evidence of a bizarre, quasi-religious cult which involved the commission of sex acts, the wearing of robes, and the reading of passages from a text called the Book Of The Law.

Colin Batley, said the prosecution, was the "manipulative sexual predator" who led the group.

The guilty verdicts reflected offences against two boys and four girls, all of whom are now adults and whose identities are protected by press restrictions.

Two were targeted by Colin Batley in the London area before he moved to Kidwelly.

He will be sentenced tomorrow for 11 offences of rape; six of buggery; three of indecent assault; and for other offences of causing prostitution for gain, indecency with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and possessing indecent photographs of a child.

Elaine Batley has to be dealt with for offences of indecency and sexual activity with a child and indecent assault.

Marling's offences comprise aiding and abetting rape; causing prostitution for gain; sexual activity with a child; inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; and indecency with a child.

Millar will be sentenced for indecency with a child and sexual activity with a child.

During the trial, the jury heard how one of the victims had had to have sex with Colin Batley as part of an elaborate occult initiation ceremony.

The 15-year-old schoolgirl was so convinced she would be murdered by shadowy cult assassins if she refused that she gave in.

During the ceremony she had to wear an upside-down crucifix around her neck.

Another victim, who was raped at the age of 11 by Batley, was told that sex with him was a test — and if she did not pass she would go to The Abyss (Hell).

Elaine Batley, Millar and Marling all had Egyptian-style tattoos, the court heard, and Millar, who worked as a prostitute, admitted that over a period of two years she had had sex with up to 3,000 people.

During a house search after Colin Batley was arrested, detectives found a typed document suggesting there was nothing wrong with rape.

Sandra Iveson was adamant that allegations that she had incited two youngsters to have sex so she could film them were untrue.

Colin Batley showed no emotion when yesterday's verdicts were announced, but his wife, Marling and Millar all looked shocked when they were being led away with him by custody officers.

Loud shouting could be heard as the four defendants went down the stairs to the basement cell complex.

Barden was allowed to remain on bail.

Thanking the jurors for their "sheer hard work", Judge Thomas said the long case had involved some "particularly harrowing" evidence.

He said any juror who wanted to would be able to take advantage of a special counselling service offered by the Court Service.

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