The self-styled leader of a Satanic sex cult was told yesterday that he might never be freed after he was convicted of more than 20 sexual offences against children, including 11 rapes.
Colin Batley, 48, was told by a judge at Swansea Crown Court that he had created a “sick little kingdom” to feed his appetite for under-age sex.
During a five-week trial the court was told that Batley and three women moved from London to a cul-de-sac in the Welsh seaside village of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, and staged rituals inspired by the occultist Aleister Crowley. The rituals in hooded robes wearing upside-down crucifixes would be followed by group sex sessions often involving children who were intimidated into silence by threats from Batley.
A court was told that the children, some as young as 11, were subjected to “organised and systematic” abuse by Batley, his wife Elaine and two women cult members.
Batley was found guilty of 11 charges of rape, six serious sexual assaults, three indecent assaults and causing a child to have sex. Judge Paul Thomas said he would have a serve a minimum of 11 years but may never be freed.
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Judge Thomas told him: “You are now, and for the foreseeable future, a danger to children. The public needs protection from you — there are very serious concerns and risks in the future if you are released.”
Jacqueline Marling, 42, was jailed for 12 years after being convicted of aiding and abetting rape, causing prostitution, indecency with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The judge described her as Batley’s second-in-command and as “the next most culpable in this horrific scenario”.
He told her: “It brought together two kindred evil spirits. You have shown no remorse or emotion until there were tears of self-pity. You have fully lived up to the ideals of your mentor, Aleister Crowley.”
Batley’s wife Elaine, 47, was jailed for eight years after being found guilty of three charges of indecency with a child and sexual activity with a child.
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The judge told her: “You were prepared to do your husband’s bidding even in the most appalling circumstances. You were a willing and integral part of these activities.”
Shelly Millar, 35, was jailed for five years for indecency with a child and inciting a child to engage in sex. A fifth defendant, Vincent Barden, 70, of Kempston, Bedfordshire, admitted assaulting an under-age girl. He was jailed for three years.
A joint statement from Batley’s child victims said: “This has been a nightmare journey for every one of us and we hope this can be the start of a new beginning. We’ve experience the worst that life can throw at us and all we want to do now is move forward with our lives. We would say to anyone else who may have experienced anything like us to dig deep and find the courage to report it — whether to a family member, a friend or the police. Don’t be afraid and don’t suffer alone.”