Its adherents follow a sadomasochistic lifestyle inspired by science fiction novels in which women are viewed as the natural slaves of men.

Bemused officers were asked to investigate after a man complained. His teenage son had left college, home and family to become a full-time “apprentice” in the Kaotian cult.

They discovered a small group living in a house in Darlington, Co Durham, who had met in internet chat rooms devoted to the Chronicles of Gor, a collection of 25 fantasy novels by John Norman, a US college professor.

Lee Thompson, 31, the self-styled master of the Darlington Kaotians, has been seen strolling the town’s streets with a leash attached to the collar of a female “slave”.

His 18-year-old apprentice, Zachary Nichodemous, is a Star Trek fan and aspiring computer technician, who left his home in Harlow, Essex, to move into the Darlington household. “All my life I’ve had a feeling that there was something missing,” he said. “Then I met him [Mr Thompson] on the internet and he told me about the Kaotians. It’s the thing I’ve been looking for.”

Maria Nichodemous, 43, last night said that she was heartbroken by her son’s decision to join the Darlington cult. She said: “I just want my son to come home. We can work through whatever has happened.”

A family friend said that Mr Nicodemous left home two months ago after telling his mother that he was going to stay with friends.

“He phoned a couple of days later and said he wouldn’t be coming back,” the friend said. “He told his mum he had met the master of the Kaotians on the internet and had decided to join his cult. It has made her hair stand on end because Zach is not exactly a man of the world. He had never even had a girlfriend.”

A Co Durham police spokesman said yesterday that officers had looked into the complaints and decided to take no action because those involved were all consenting adults.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• 20mph limit to cut urban road deaths
• Great grades not needed to be a good doctor
• The survivors' tales