Police have uncovered an alleged 'sex cult' in northern Italy whose female followers were brainwashed and abused by a 77-year-old man known only as The Doctor.
Officers carried out raids on Sunday against the group, based in the town of Novara, near Milan, on suspicion of slavery and sexual abuse, including of young girls.
Police say the leader of the cult, who they have not named, used a series of businesses including dance schools, herbalists, craft shops and a publishing house to lure in vulnerable and often wealthy women who he would then indoctrinate.
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