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.
Ron Jeremy was the biggest porn star in the world. He made it into the mainstream. Porn King: The Rise & Fall of Ron Jeremy I, woman, Channel 4 2022
He’s not a legend. The man’s a rapist. ibid.
Jeremy is facing 34 counts of sexual assault. ibid. man
He was just almost like a cartoon character. ibid. woman
The adult business really took off when VHS came around. ibid. man
We absolutely knew he was a groper … He felt entitled. ibid. woman
As far as I know, I was the very first woman in the industry to be raped by Ron in 1983. I wish I had gone to the police. ibid.
I think there’s hundreds of victims out there. Porn King: The Rise & Fall of Ron Jeremy II, woman
Reality TV shows became really big for Ron. ibid.
He was too cheap to pay for dates. ibid. man
You see such a change in Ron. Ron visibly stopped taking care of himself. ibid.
In 2017 police in California and Washington State launch investigations into the allegations. The police investigations are dropped in 2018. ibid. caption
He’s frail and mentally incompetent … I see the signs of dementia. ibid. woman friend
He was trying with all his might to rape me in that bathroom. ibid.
When he was arrested, dozens and dozens of women come forward to the LA Sheriff’s Department. ibid. man
The allegations against Jeremy do get more violent over time.
Soviet documents now showed the rapes continued at least until 1947. Messengers from Moscow I: West, BBC 1995
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. caption
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 boss
He’s only being Jimmy. Fooling about. Trying to make people feel better. ibid. nurse to victim
Like a dirty old man trying to mix with young people. The Reckoning II, victim
The biggest manipulator of people to rise to the status he did. ibid.
But in order to protect myself I had to keep my eye out to make sure the naysayers didn’t stop me from doing nice happy things. ibid. Jimmy
Charity work – why do you put so much time and effort into that? ibid. biographer to Jimmy