A sex cult leader who brainwashed and abused children has been jailed and warned he may never be released.
Colin Batley, 48, was found guilty of 35 offences at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday. Three women, including his estranged wife, were also imprisoned.
He moved from London to the small town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, where the cult operated in a cul-de-sac.
He was given a public protection sentence with an 11-year minimum recommendation.
‘That means, of course, you may never be released,’ said Judge Paul Thomas QC.
Jacqueline Marling, 42, described as ‘Batley’s right-hand woman’, was jailed for 12 years, while Batley’s wife Elaine, 47, was jailed for eight years.
Shelly Millar, 35, described during the trial as Batley’s ‘sex slave’, was jailed for five years.
Vincent Barden, 70, of Kempston, Bedfordshire, who was not a cult member, was jailed for three years after admitting two counts of sexual assault on an underage girl.
Batley was said in court to have been active as a molester and rapist of children and young people for more than three decades.
Previously, a jury rejected claims by Batley and other defendants during the trial that no cult existed.
The cult, who all lived in the same cul-de-sac, took part in a catalogue of abuse against children and young adults.
Victims said the group used occult writings and practices to ‘brainwash’ them, and justify their abuse.
Batley used his position as the cult leader to rape boys and girls, the court was told. BBC online article 11 March 2011, ‘Kidwelly sex cult leader Colin Batley may never be free’
‘One of the biggest predators in Hollywood.’ We Need to Talk About Cosby I, BBC 2023
How do we talk about Bill Cosby. There’s all the good he did. And all the other things that I and many other people believe he did. ibid.
‘We will still be searching for Spanish Fly.’ ibid. Bill’s interview Larry King
Long before he was himself, before we watched him on Saturday morning cartoons, before I was even born, from almost the very start of his career, Cosby is alleged to have been assaulting and raping women. ibid.
He also tried every other job in showbiz … You can’t force something to be successful. We Need to Talk About Cosby II
‘That this person you think of as a hero has fooled the entire country about what their character really is.’ ibid.
Bill Cosby would soon reach a level of fame, wealth and power that no-one could have imagined. ibid.
Cosby Show: ‘He’s got this look on his face it’s very creepy.’ We Need to Talk About Cosby III
Cosby Show: ‘They existed in this sort of black utopia.’ ibid.
‘The Cosby Show came along and saved NBC.’ ibid.
‘This is now a full-blown explosion that everyone has to deal with.’ We Need to Talk About Cosby IV
This July 15th New York magazine cover was the moment the allegations really hit home. 35 women and an empty chair to symbolise the women that hadn’t come forward. ibid.
Soviet documents now showed the rapes continued at least until 1947. Messengers from Moscow I: West, BBC 1995
Danny Masterton: 30 years behind bars … Accused of rape by five women, charged with violating three, and went to prison by two. True Crime Recaps: From That ’70s Show to 30 Years Behind Bars
The women like most of Danny’s accusers were members of the Church of Scientology … According to the prosecution, Danny used his church connections like a ‘stay out of jail free’ card. ibid.
According to The New York Times she met Jeffrey Epstein at a party sometime in the early ’90s. From then on they were in each other’s live for better or worse. Mostly worse. True Crime Recaps: Ghislaine Maxwell Latest: Newly Released Documents Reveal Twisted Filthy Rich Lifestyle, Youtube 11.33, 2020
She was the one who made the whole thing possible and she knew it. ibid.
Jeffrey Epstein seems like one of those rich perverts who didn’t notice the help. But they saw, they heard, and now they’re talking. True Crime Recaps: Jeffrey Epstein, Youtube 17.55, 2020
The Lolita Express: that’s what those in the know called Epstein’s infamous Boeing 727. ibid.
Prince Andrew was a regular guest at Epstein’s Palm Beach House of Sin. ibid.
The highlights or should we say high-lies from Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2016 deposition. Virginia Roberts Giuffre was suing her for calling her a liar when she dared to file charges against her and Epstein in 2015. It took four long years of legal battles for the transcript of that deposition to be released. True Crime Recaps: Sex, Lies & Deposition: Ghislaine’s Testimony About Jeffrey Epstein, Youtube 18.13, 2021
‘I totally resent and find it disgusting that you use the word recruit.’ ibid. Maxwell
How much was Epstein paying Ghislaine? … Somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 a year … She did admit there were other perks. ibid.
Virginia [Roberts Giuffre] said she had dinner with Bill Clinton, Epstein, Ghislaine and two other underage girls on Epstein’s private island. ibid.
That big redacted name is Clinton’s. ibid.
His name appeared on flight manifests almost 26 times. ibid.
Prince Andrew’s name was redacted. ibid.
Bill Cosby is facing new accusations just a couple of months after his release from prison. True Crime Recaps: Why Bill Cosby Was Released From Prison! Youtube 14.02, 2021
More than 60 women claimed Cosby sexual assaulted them as far back as the 1960s. ibid.
His alleged MO was the common denominator among all the women accusing him of assault. ibid.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal troubles are going global. Almost a dozen women in the United Kingdom claim they too were used and abused at the hands of the infamous accused madam and her svengali Jeffrey Epstein. True Crime Recaps: More Legal Troubles for Ghislaine Maxwell, Youtube 0.59 short, 2021
It seems she and former president Bill Clinton were getting pretty chummy after sources say Epstein rejected her love in favour of the teenagers she allegedly brought him. True Crime Recaps: Let’s Talk About Ghislaine Maxwell’s Private Life, Youtube 1.00 short, 2021
Ghislaine Maxwell’s life in prison isn’t going too well. She is giving the New York Metropolitan Detective Centre one star … Complaining about the way she has been treated behind bars. True Crime Recaps: Ghislaine Maxwell Update, Youtube 11.46 short, 2021
In March 2021 new charges were filed against her alleging that she groomed a 14-year-old girl with shopping trips and other treats.
She has already proven to be a flight risk. ibid.
Well, it’s official: Prince Andrew is being sued by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. She’s accusing him of sexually abusing her three times when she was underage and allegedly being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. True Crime Recaps: Prince Andrew is Officially Being Sued, Youtube 0.59 short, 2021
Victims: Ghislaine Maxwell has a problem with that word. In preparation for her upcoming trial her lawyers are asking the court to ban the use of the word victim in favour of the word accuser. True Crime Recaps: Ghislaine Maxwell Update: Judge Denies Requests! Youtube 8.27, 2022
A jury found her guilty of five out of six charges including sex trafficking, but don’t say goodbye to her just yet. True Crime Recaps: Inside the Ghislaine Maxwell Trial, Youtube 11.50, 2022
The one person they did not put on the stand was Ghislaine herself. ibid.
Jimmy Savile died on October 29th 2011 aged 84. In the course of his life he became one of the most celebrated radio and TV personalities in Britain, and used his extensive charity work to place himself at the very heart of the most important institutions in our society. The Reckoning I, caption, BBC 2023
This drama examines how he was able to hide in plain sight, using his position to commit countless serious sexual offences, many against minors, and how the voices of so many were ignored and silenced. ibid.
‘I would have danced on his grave.’ ibid. victim
‘He groomed the whole nation’ ibid.
‘I suppose you want to hear the story of my overnight success … following the guiding light of the Duchess who brought me up in the Catholic faith.’ ibid. Savile
‘I was king of clubland. I brought the Swinging Sixties to the north of England before anyone thought of it.’ ibid.
‘The rumours are cobblers. It was all good clean fun.’ ibid.
‘When opportunity knocks don’t hesitate. That’s my motto.’ ibid.
‘I’d divide everything he tells you by two, if I were you.’ ibid. Dutchess
‘You are the man, Jimmy. Everybody is saying it.’ ibid. Eric Morley
‘I’m worried there’s some terrible darkness in him.’ ibid. Duchess to priest
‘Personally, I wouldn’t touch him with a bargepole.’ ibid. BBC lady
‘He’s only being Jimmy. Fooling about. Trying to make people feel better.’ ibid. nurse to victim