A man in his sixties has appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to deny a staggering 48 charges related to drugging his wife to facilitate rape and sexual assault, both alone and with other men. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered not guilty pleas to all counts during a lengthy court session.
Decades-Long Allegations and Multiple Co-Defendants
The prosecution alleges that the husband drugged his wife to rape and sexually assault her over a period exceeding two decades, dating back to the early 2000s. More recently, between 2023 and his arrest last year, he is accused of inviting other men to sexually assault and rape his wife while she was unconscious.
He appeared alongside twelve other men, aged between 28 and 73, who also cannot be identified. All face conspiracy charges, with all but two additionally accused of committing direct contact sexual offences. Family members of both the alleged victim and the defendants were present in the public gallery during the proceedings.
Detailed Breakdown of the Charges
The husband faces 23 counts relating to offences committed alone, eight conspiracy offences, and 17 attacks allegedly committed with other men. The specific charges include:
- Four counts of conspiracy to rape
- Three counts of conspiracy to commit sexual assault by penetration
- One count of conspiracy to administer a substance with intent to overpower to allow sexual activity
- 18 counts of rape
- 13 counts of sexual assault by penetration
- Seven counts of sexual assault
- One count of administering a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower to allow sexual activity
- One count of sharing photographs or films of a person in an intimate state for sexual gratification
Court Proceedings and Plea Status
Appearing by video-link from Forest Bank prison, the clerk took 23 minutes to read the 18-page indictment as the man pleaded not guilty to each count. Five of his co-defendants appeared alongside him, while another five on bail appeared in the dock, and two others appeared from different prisons.
Regarding plea status, five men have yet to enter pleas, six have denied the charges, and a man in his 50s pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, conspiracy to administer a substance, and assault by penetration.
Trial Date Set for September
A 12-week trial has been scheduled to commence on September 1st of this year at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. The case continues to develop as preparations for the extensive trial proceed.
