Jurors at Minshull Street Crown Court have heard how a husband in his 60s from Stockport, who has admitted drugging and raping his wife over more than 20 years, tried to source drugs and described himself as needing a “partner in crime”. Nine men are on trial accused of sexual offences against the man's wife. The husband has admitted multiple offences, including rape and administering substances with intent to stupefy his wife so other men could engage in sexual activity with her.
The Manchester Evening News and other media organisations are not naming the man in order to protect his victim's anonymity. The nine men on trial deny the charges they face.
The failed meeting with 'Contact R'
The court heard the husband had planned to meet a man in a bid to source drugs, but the individual – only named in court as 'Contact R' – “didn't show”. The husband then messaged Contact R to say: “If you're not coming just let me know. Don't mind big thing we are planning. I'm off then thought you scousers had more bottle. I need a partner in crime.”
Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC said it appeared 'Contact R' “didn't show”. Earlier conversations between the pair were also read to the jury, including the husband asking: “You're not a police officer are you?” 'Contact R' replied: “Lol??? No why??” The court heard 'Contact R' asked the husband to bring some of his wife's underwear in return for the drugs.
Seven 'contact offenders' and two 'non-contact' offenders
Seven of the nine defendants have been described as 'contact offenders', who jurors heard visited the couple's home expecting her to be 'wasted' and 'out of it'. It is alleged the 'contact offenders' are taxi driver Philip Wild, 59; recruitment agency worker Mohammed Sabir, 28; building supplies employee Jordan Wallace, 31; industrial cleaning firm worker Alan Keelan, 42; retiree Robert Stewart, 70; sheet metal worker Richard Townsend, 38; and senior paramedic Jonathan Kirk, 43.
The Crown alleges the 'non-contact' offenders, who allegedly 'hid behind a screen' as they conspired to administer substances to the wife, are kitchen firm sales rep David Graves, 60; and self-employed mechanic Daniel Rayner, 42. Four other men pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to various offences linked to the case.
Messages about tablets and 'trial runs'
On the eighth day of the trial on Wednesday (November 11), jurors continued to hear details of messaging between the husband and other contacts. The husband told Mr Stewart in April 2022: “Tablets didn't seem to work on her last night sorry.” “No probs,” replied Mr Stewart, jurors heard. “Dam wish I knew where to get some real stuff,” the husband told him, it was said. Mr Stewart then said: “I know all these kids get hold of ryhipnol [sic] but I don't know where the get it underground.”
In July 2022 the husband told 'Contact Q': “No one has come up with anything that is easy to add to a drink without changing the taste. Have been sent links to sites that supply, mostly dark web and use bitcoin, all seem like scams, been suggested and supplied various meds, none seem to have worked, made drink taste bad or sound dangerous.” 'Contact Q' told him: “Work on the drugs first. A couple of trial runs by yourself before you/we can progress. I'm not prepared to be accused of rape.” The husband replied: “Yes 100% trial runs first.”
Alleged beginning of contact offending
The jury heard about events in August 2023, which Ms Oakley alleged marked the 'beginning of contact offending'. Defendant Philip Wild was said to have attended the husband's home in the early hours. Giving evidence, DS Richard Bolt of Greater Manchester Police said he did not identify any chats between the husband and Mr Wild prior to the defendant's attendance that day.
The husband took images and a video of Mr Wild in the bedroom with his wife, the court heard. The video was said to feature Mr Wild touching the woman's breast and touching her genitals over underwear. Later that day the husband messaged 'Contact Q' to say: “Last night taxi driver got a feel.” DS Bolt said the taxi driver referred to was Mr Wild.
The husband then sent the images to 'Contact Q', telling them: “She woke up as he went to suck her t*t, didn't see him though.” 'Contact Q' asked: “Did he get inside her pants.” The husband replied: “Not this time but have his number now.”
