In the United Kingdom, 13 men have appeared before a court on suspicion of being involved in a scheme to drug and rape a woman which, according to the prosecution, took place over several years and was organised by her own husband.
The alleged victim’s husband, a man in his 60s from Stockport, faces 48 criminal charges linked to alleged incidents over a 22-year period.
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He has pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including five counts of rape, six of assault by penetration, three of sexual assault and one of unauthorised distribution of intimate images. However, he has pleaded not guilty to the other charges, including the allegation that he conspired with other people to drug and rape his wife.
Because of legal restrictions, his identity has not been made public, as revealing his name would lead to the identification of the alleged victim.
The court has allowed the publication of the names of the 13 co-defendants, who are aged between 28 and 73. One of them, 59-year-old Keith Fotheringham, has pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to commit assault by penetration and administering a substance to incapacitate the victim.
Meanwhile, the other 12 defendants have denied the charges and will stand trial at Manchester Crown Court.
Among them are Jonathan Kirk, a senior medical assistant, as well as Karl Lindsay, a former chief executive of football club Taunton Town FC. The latter is accused of supplying narcotic substances in exchange for photographs and videos of the alleged assaults. Both have pleaded not guilty.
According to the indictment, the alleged incidents took place from 2018 to 2025, while investigators have uncovered photographic and video material suspected of documenting the abuse.
Another preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 24 at Manchester Crown Court. The trial is expected to begin at the end of the month and last around 12 weeks.
