THE victims of evil child abuser Colin Batley have spoken of their ordeal as their chief tormentor was told he may never be released from prison.
Batley was yesterday jailed indefinitely after a judge described him as dangerous and condemned his role as "ruler of a sick little kingdom".
His mistress, Jacqueline Marling, was jailed for 12 years, while his wife, Elaine Batley, got eight years and co-defendant Shelly Millar five years.
Vincent Barden, who was not part of the cult but who indecently assaulted one of the cult's victims, was sent down for three years.
The sentences were announced two days after verdicts were returned at the end of a five-week trial.
And after Colin Batley and his accomplices were jailed at Swansea Crown Court, a statement from their victims was released.
It said: "We would like to thank everyone who helped us get through this ordeal, including family, friends and the investigation team.
"We are generally pleased with the sentencing today. It's been a nightmare journey for each one of us, but we hope this can be a start of a new beginning.
"We have experienced the worst that life can throw at us and all we want to do is move forward with our lives."
They also urged other victims of abuse to come forward, saying: "We would like to take this opportunity to say to anyone else who may have experienced anything like what we have, to dig deep and find the courage to report it, whether to a family member, friend or the police.
"Don't be afraid and don't suffer alone."
Colin Batley, 48, Elaine Batley, 47, Marling, 42, and Millar, 35 — all from Clos yr Onnen, Kidwelly — were arrested after Dyfed-Powys Police launched an investigation into a 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 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 Carmarthenshire.
Bedfordshire pensioner Barden, 70, admitted paying one of the girls to let him grope her but was cleared of raping her.
Judge Paul Thomas QC, sentencing, said Batley had accurately been described by the prosecution as evil.
Batley had dedicated his life to satisfying his sexual urges by any means at his disposal, said the judge, and the age or sex of his victims was "largely a matter of indifference" to him.
He had treated youngsters as sexual playthings and used the occult to control and dominate them.
Judge Thomas, who condemned The Book Of The Law — by mystic and magician Aleister Crowley — as a "ludicrous document", said Batley had used the text as a way of authorising his sexual crimes.
Elaine Batley had helped her husband fulfil his perversions, but Colin Batley's mistress, Marling, had been his soulmate.
Marling had gone along with all the "occult nonsense" and had supported Batley in his self-appointed role as "ruler of a sick little kingdom".
Marling had been besotted with Batley and The Book Of The Law — and the pair had been "two kindred spirits".
Batley had controlled the group both sexually and financially, said the judge, and it was significant that in prostitute Millar's address book he was listed as "My Lord".
All three women were "not unintelligent" and one of the enduring mysteries of the case was the way Batley had been able to exert such influence over them.
Together, the four Clos yr Onnen defendants had "besmirched" the image of Kidwelly.
Protection
Judge Thomas said Batley was a dangerous man who represented a serious risk of causing harm by committing serious offences in the future.
As a result, in his case there would have to be a sentence of imprisonment for public protection — and Batley would have to serve at least 11 years behind bars before being becoming eligible to apply to be released on licence.
But he would only regain his liberty at that stage if the Parole Board was satisfied he was no longer a danger.
"That means you may never be released," the judge told Batley.
The judge said Elaine Batley, Marling, Millar and Barden could expect to be released on licence after serving half their fixed-term sentences.
He directed that all five defendants must be registered as sex offenders for the rest of their lives.
Colin Batley was sentenced 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 was dealt with for indecency and sexual activity with a child; and indecent assault.
Marling's offences comprised 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 was 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.
A co-defendant in the trial, Sandra Iveson, 45, also from Clos yr Onnen — was cleared of indecency with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
She was adamant that allegations that she incited two youngsters to have sex so she could film them were untrue.
Judge Thomas said the trial had followed a difficult and complicated police inquiry and the officers involved in it deserved to be publicly commended.
DCI Mark Bergmanski said: "We welcome today's sentences as they reflect the severity of the offences.
"Our thoughts are clearly with the victims and we hope they can move forward with their lives."
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