Oluronbi, a self-styled prophet who also worked as a pharmacist, “had such a hold over the congregation that anything he said was taken as read”, said police.<\/p>\n
One of the victims told the BBC the pastor’s actions had been “terrible” and “affected everyone’s lives”.<\/p>\n
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said those abused fell under the “influence and authority the defendants held, and honestly believed their actions were on God’s behalf”.<\/p>\n
The abuse of one boy and six girls started when they were children – one as young as eight, and for some, continued in to adulthood.<\/p>\n
It began after Oluronbi, originally from Nigeria, set up a splinter group to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church at a private home in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
“Spiritual baths” would take place in an upstairs bathroom, a pretext for sexual abuse ranging from indecent assault during “washing” to rapes afterwards, the court heard.<\/p>\n
The children were often made to wear red sashes as he carried out the abuse.<\/p>\n
Three of the four who became pregnant had multiple abortions, which police said often happened after Oluronbi booked them into clinics under false names.<\/p>\n
The abuse went on for years until one victim came forward to police.<\/p>\n
Oluronbi was arrested in May 2018 at Birmingham Airport as he tried to flee the UK.<\/p>\n
‘An animal’<\/strong><\/p>\n Police released a filmed confession in which he tells a victim’s relative “everything was my fault” and describes himself as “an animal”.<\/p>\n Oluronbi, aged 60, of Orchard Drive, Longbridge, Birmingham, was convicted of 15 rape charges, seven indecent assaults and two sexual assaults.<\/p>\n His wife, aged 58, of Walker Road, Walsall, was found guilty of three charges of aiding and abetting rape.<\/p>\n The jury, which found Oluronbi not guilty of one rape and an attempted rape, could not reach a verdict on six charges.<\/p>\n The CPS announced on Tuesday it would not be seeking a retrial, meaning the Oluronbis’ crimes can now be reported.<\/p>\n Det Insp Dave Sproson, from the Public Protection Unit, said: “These were sickening crimes committed against children who had put their trust in Oluronbi and looked up to him.<\/p>\n “I hope his conviction offers some closure to the victims and I would like to thank them for their bravery throughout the trial.”<\/p>\n The Oluronbis will be sentenced at a later date.<\/p>\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/6A72\/production\/_110505272_robeswm.jpg?resize=696%2C392&ssl=1\")
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