An evangelical pastor has been arrested after at least 50 women – including teenage girls – came forward claiming he had raped them after promising to “cast out the demons” from their bodies.

The alleged crimes took place in the city of Maracaibo in Zulia state in north-western Venezuela, and the suspect was arrested on Wednesday, 9th February.

He has been named as Miguel Angel Chourio Cueto, 45, and he was detained by the Police Intelligence Service (SIP).

The police said he would allegedly choose his victims from among parishioners who attended the Yeshua Hamashiaj church.

Several of the people he is alleged to have raped are said to be teenagers, although there is no further information regarding their ages.

It is alleged that he would reach out to the women who attended his sermons to offer his personalised “religious services”, which consisted of having sex with him as a way to supposedly “cast out their demons”.

He was reported to the police by one of his alleged victims-to-be after the woman failed to fall for his ruse. On the day of his arrest, Chourio Cueto had reportedly arranged a meeting with an intended victim.

Despite reportedly resisting arrest, the suspect was detained.

The police said that Chourio Cueto already has a criminal record for the same crime. They added that all of the women would be filing complaints as co-plaintiffs.