Religious cult member admits repeatedly raping children

Derek Lincoln, 74, sexually abused two schoolgirls aged nine and 11 almost 30 years ago.

Religious cult member admits repeatedly raping children

A member of a religious cult known as the Children of God has admitted repeatedly raping two schoolgirls almost 30 years ago.

Derek Lincoln, 74, who is also known as Derek Birks or John Green, thanked one of his young victims as he raped her.

The girls were aged nine and 11 when the abuse began.

 Lincoln, who was extradited from France, committed the offences at various addresses in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire between 1989 and 1996.

At the High Court in Glasgow prosecutor Kath Harper said: “The accused was a member of a religious group sometimes known as the Children of God.

“Many members were known to one another only by names attributed to them by the group, making identification of witness difficult.”

The group, who living communally, performed missionary work in the West of Scotland and had limited interaction with the outside world.

The first rape victim described Lincoln as ‘stern and controlling” and said he once put duct tape on her mouth and also put soap in her mouth and beat her with a switch and a belt.”

Ms Harper said that Lincoln began abusing the girl when she was 11 or 12.

When the girl was aged 12, Lincoln apologised to her for his behaviour, but despite this the abuse continued and became more frequent.

On one occasion he took her out jogging with him and as they ran into a wooded area he pulled her to the ground and raped her.

Ms Harper said: “The abuse continued daily and sometimes after raping her he would say ‘thank you.”

Lincoln’s second victim was raped when she was nine or ten. After abusing her he would tell her he was sorry and frequently bought her gifts.

The abuse came to light when his first victim made a complaint to police in England.

Lincoln, who was retired and living in France, has no previous convictions.

He was returned from France to Scotland on October 9, 2019 on a European Arrest Warrant.

Judge Lord Matthews deferred sentence on Lincoln, who is in custody at Barlinnie prison, until next month for background reports.

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