Police allege a “satanic cult leader” forced kids to drink blood and bodily fluids after luring them with cheap English lessons.

Police allege an Italian man was a satanic cult leader who sexually abused children, forcing them to “drink a mixture of bodily fluids after luring them with the promise of English lessons”.

Matteo Valdambrini, who was arrested in Prato, Tuscany, has been charged with 13 counts of sexual violence, slavery and child pornography.

Mr Valdambrini allegedly referred to himself as “Il Diavolo” meaning the “The Devil” and is accused of forcing cult members to perform sexual acts with him.

Police say he carried out disturbing rituals on his victims, encouraging them to drink a mixture of blood and semen as well as supposedly stabbing the brain of a dead animal.

He is alleged to have told the victims that the abuse would give them supernatural powers “like vampires or werewolves”.