A bizarre sex slavery sect is said to be operating in a suburban North East town with members living their lives based on a series of 1960s science fiction novels where women are dominated.

Durham Police confirmed that they had raided an address in Darlington amid complaints that a woman was being held against her will, but a spokesman said that the Canadian was a willing participant and they had no grounds to act against the so-called Kaotians sect.

It is understood the 29-year-old had voluntarily attended the sect after an internet chat, but later contacted a friend in America, who then contacted police, saying she wanted to leave but couldn’t as she had burnt her passport.

Police helped to arrange her return home, but a spokesman said there was no criminal activity discovered and that people involved were all "consenting adults".

A spokesman added: "Police attended this property after a call from a concerned member of the public. An investigation by our officers did not disclose any criminal offences."

Police also investigated claims by a concerned father in Essex that his 18-year-old son had joined the quasi-medieval sect, but after police spoke to the teenager he confirmed he was at the property voluntarily and police said they again had no grounds to get involved.

The Kaotians are a splinter group of the Goreans, which according to estimates number 25,000 followers nationwide. Both groups base their slavery and dominance beliefs on a series of novels written by John Norman, the pen-name of Dr John Lange, a United States professor and classics scholar.

The books depict a society, called the land of Gor, which is divided into castes, and where women are kept as slaves. Fascination with the books has grown since the advent of the internet.

Lee Thompson, 31, lives at the address with the Essex teenager, and describes himself as a master who trains slaves. He has been banned from one shop in the town for turning up with a girl on a leash.

In an interview with the Northern Echo, Mr Thompson, said: "I have been called sick but I don’t think what I do is bad. There’s no reason for people to be afraid of me. I’d die before I see anyone get hurt."

Mr Thompson explained that while the women must cook and clean as part of their duties, there is an element of sexual domination.

He said that as many as 350 followers regularly meet in pubs and clubs around the North East, in an area from Berwick to York.

Mr Thompson, who has been a follower for 15 years, and says he has enjoyed slave relationships with about eight girls, added: "It works on the system that some women have a desire to serve. Most people think it is a very sexual thing, but it is about every action that they make, they do it for their master.

"Saying that, the girls will do everything they are told when it comes to sex, but it is all voluntary and all safe. I use internet chatrooms to meet people, the girls are quite willing."

Today he was not available to comment at the pebble-dashed terraced house in Forster Street.

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