Thirteen co-defendants of a man accused of conspiring to drug and rape his unconscious wife can now be named after reporting restrictions were lifted on Friday. The case, involving a husband from Stockport, Greater Manchester, who is in his 60s, will proceed to trial in Manchester later this year.
Husband Admits Some Charges, Denies Others
The husband, who cannot be identified to protect his wife's anonymity, has admitted some sexual offences against his wife but denies drugging her for sex between 2004 and 2025. He also pleaded not guilty to conspiring with others to drug and rape her between 2018 and 2025. On Monday, he changed some of his pleas, pleading guilty to five counts of rape, six counts of assault by penetration, and three counts of sexual assault on various dates between 2022 and 2025. He also admitted sharing intimate photographs or film of his wife without her consent for sexual gratification. He denies 11 counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, seven counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, four counts of conspiracy to rape, three counts of conspiracy to assault by penetration, one count of conspiracy to administer a substance with intent, and one count of administering a substance with intent.
Co-Defendants and Their Charges
Keith Fotheringham, 59, from Dundee, Scotland, has admitted assault by penetration, conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower. He entered his pleas in February and will be sentenced at a later date. The following defendants will stand trial on September 1: David Graves, 59, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire; Daniel Rayner, 42, of Whitstable, Kent; and Karl Lindsay, 55, of Taunton, Somerset. They all deny conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.
Additional Defendants and Pleas
Graham Brougham, 73, of Northwich, Cheshire, has pleaded not guilty to rape, conspiracy to rape, and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Philip Wild, 58, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, has pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, conspiracy to rape, and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Mohammed Sabir, 28, of Stockport, denies three counts of rape, conspiracy to rape, and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Stockport, denies rape, conspiracy to rape, and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Sean Peers, 37, of Stockport, has pleaded not guilty to assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Jordan Wallace, 31, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, has pleaded not guilty to rape, attempted rape, and conspiracy to rape. Alan Keelan, 42, of Wythenshawe, and Robert Stewart, 70, of Stockport, both deny two counts of rape and conspiracy to rape. Richard Townsend, 37, of Heywood, Greater Manchester, denies assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration.
Next Court Appearance
A further preliminary hearing will be held at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on August 24, a week ahead of the scheduled 12-week trial. The case continues to attract significant attention due to the nature of the allegations and the number of defendants involved.
