Lee Thompson’s followers lead a sadomasochistic lifestyle inspired by a series of 1960s fantasy novels, Chronicles of Gor.

In the books, written by US college professor John Norman, women are viewed as natural slaves to men.

At Teesside Crown Court, Thompson – who describes himself as a pagan – admitted two counts of procuring a woman to have sexual intercourse.

Lee Thompson, from Darlington, and his slave “Angel” are part of an unusual sect called the Kaotians, who base their lives on the science fiction novels of John Norman.

A television showdown has taken place between a sex slave master and the father of his apprentice.

A slave "master" was last night at the centre of a media storm, talking to Sunday newspapers about his revelations as his claims became ever more lurid.

A sex slavery cult based on a series of 1960s science fiction novels has been uncovered by police in Darlington.

We appreciate the fact that no laws appear to have been broken by the strange sex slavery sect operating in the North-East and, therefore, police have no grounds to take any action.

Police insisted last night they are powerless to act against a bizarre sex slavery sect operating in the NorthEast.

Slavery, bondage and science-fiction seem far removed from a pebble-dashed North-East house. But an investigation by The Northern Echo has revealed a secretive sub-culture inspired by fantasy novels. OLIVIA RICHWALD and DAVID ROBERTS report

Police are investigating a bizarre sex slavery sect which is thought to be operating in a Durham suburb, whose members model their relationships on a series of 1960s science fiction novels in which women are dominated.