A man from the Stockport area of Greater Manchester has appeared in court, accused of conspiring with other men to drug his wife and rape her while she was unconscious. The defendant, who is in his 60s, also faces charges of raping and sexually assaulting his wife over a period of 20 years.
Court Proceedings and Pleas
He was arrested last year and pleaded not guilty on Friday to 48 separate charges at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. The charges include multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, highlighting the severity of the allegations.
Co-Defendants and Charges
The man appeared in the dock alongside 12 other men, aged between 28 and 73. Among them, five are from Stockport, three from other parts of Greater Manchester, one from Cheshire, and three from various regions across the UK. They faced a range of charges, such as conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, rape, and sexual assault.
In a significant development, one man in his 50s from Dundee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape, assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. He is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date, while six of his co-defendants denied the charges against them. Five others were not required to enter pleas until a future hearing.
Courtroom Atmosphere and Logistics
The courtroom was packed, with relatives of the alleged victim and families of the defendants present in the public gallery. During the proceedings, five men stood in the dock, while eight, including the husband, appeared via videolink from prison, where they are being held on remand.
The men, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, are set to stand trial at the same court in September, marking a critical next step in this complex case.
