Aravindan Balakrishnan: Leader of communist cult on trial

The leader of a communist cult effectively imprisoned his own daughter for 30 years and carried out a "brutal" campaign of "sexual degradation" against followers, a court has heard.

Aravindan Balakrishnan, 75, of Enfield, convinced female followers he was "all-powerful and all-seeing", Southwark Crown Court was told.

He denies charges including four counts of rape and seven of indecent assault.

Tom Symonds reports.