The leader of a Christian cult sexually assaulted two women she had groomed and manipulated while giving them psychotherapy treatment, a court heard.

Former psychotherapist Vanessa Clark admitted six indecent assaults on two women between 1996 and 2001.

Henry James, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court today that Clark's victims had been introduced to her through a Christian cult.

He said that Clark, now 63, had groomed and manipulated her "vulnerable" victims one of whom had depression and other who had been abused as a child.

The court heard that Clark had met the woman at a flat in London and had regressed one victim to her childhood before getting her to suckle her breast, saying "have some mummy milk".

Mr James said that Clark, of New Yatt Road, New Yatt, had given massages to her other victim then asked her to remove her top as well as touching her sexually with her feet.

In a handwritten letter read to the court, Clark admitted she had "excerpted great will and domination" over these women to fulfil her "sadistic" desires.

Andrian Amer, defending, appealed for a suspended sentence because the crimes were a long time ago.

He said she was no longer a part of the Christian group and was not practicing psychotherapy anymore.

Mr Amer said his client had an untreatable personality disorder that meant she lacked empathy.

But Judge Ian Pringle jailed Clark for four years for taking advantage of the "vulnerable" women.