Former priest faces retrial on sex assault charges

A former priest who led an evangelical church movement in Sheffield in the 1980s and 1990s will face a retrial for four counts of indecent assault and one of rape.

Chris Brain, 68, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, was the leader of the Nine OClock Service that combined worship with dance music.

Last month, he was found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault and not guilty on 15 counts of the same charge, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on a further four counts of indecent assault and one of rape.

On Thursday, Inner London Crown Court set a retrial date of 1 September 2026 for the five remaining counts.

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