The Hackney Gazette reports an assault committed by “a follower of the occult who battered his mentor because he believed he was working with the spirit of turn-of-the century devil worshipper, Aleister Crowley, to ‘rape his mind'”.
27 July 2005
A follower of the occult who battered his mentor because he believed he was working with the spirit of turn-of-the century devil worshipper, Aleister Crowley, to “rape his mind”, has been warned he may be facing jail after being found guilty of causing actual bodily harm.
Russell Morahan, 23, of Mead Place, Homerton, burst into James Montford’s bedroom as he slept and rained blows on him with a four-foot-long walking staff as his victim cowered under his duvet because he wanted to bring his psychological assault to the attention of the police.
New-age spiritualist Morahan had travelled from his home by train on February 27 last year. He walked the last seven miles through the night before smashing his way into the flat in Cranleigh, Surrey, and pouncing on his victim as he slept.
Mr Montford awoke to discover Morahan, who was wearing a mask and a lit miner’s helmet, standing over his bed wielding the staff bound with wire.
Psychiatrist Michael Dr Issac, who interviewed Morahan after the attack, diagnosed he was suffering from schizophrenia, symptoms of which were “holding bizarre ideas with delusionary intensity”.
The jury found him guilty of actual bodily harm and cleared him of an alternative charge of aggravated burglary. Judge John Crocker adjourned sentencing for six weeks for reports and granted bail on condition Moraham stays at his home address and has no contact, directly or indirectly, with Mr Montford.