A jury has heard how a Stockport woman was told by police that she was believed to be the victim of sexual offences committed 'without her knowledge or consent'. The revelation came on the fifth day of a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, where nine men deny charges relating to the woman.
The woman's husband, a man in his 60s, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including rape and administering substances with intent to stupefy his wife so other men could engage in sexual activity with her. Prosecutors allege he invited men to their home to abuse her while she was unconscious after being drugged. The Manchester Evening News and other media are not naming the man to protect the victim's anonymity.
Investigation traced through Europol
Jurors heard a statement from Duncan Scutt, an international liaison officer with the National Crime Agency based at Europol in The Hague. He said that on October 22, 2025, he was the on-call officer for the UK liaison bureau and received information that an investigative journalist in Germany had approached the German Federal Police with evidence relating to a Telegram chat group.
Mr Scutt said the journalist had identified content of a 'highly sexualised nature' involving women 'allegedly being sedated and raped'. His attention was drawn to a Telegram handle that had uploaded imagery of a female appearing unconscious and being sexually assaulted. The handle was traced to an IP address and phone number belonging to the husband.
Mr Scutt contacted Greater Manchester Police and liaised with Detective Constable Lauren Snook. A warrant for the husband's address was executed at 1.45pm on October 23 last year, and he was arrested at 1.50pm. DC Snook seized a mobile phone and then 'debriefed' the woman, telling her that officers 'believed she had been the victim of sexual offences without her knowledge or consent'.
Over one million images retrieved
DS Richard Bolt of GMP told the jury that more than one million images were retrieved from the phone, including 'potential offending imagery' featuring the wife. He said police identified other users the husband had been in contact with, but not all individuals, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The jury heard details of usernames used by some defendants on a swingers chat room. Robert Stewart used 'sexy roberto 1956', Philip Wild used 'peachy ass 2', Sean Peers used '420Friendly422' and 'Jimny Cricket' on Telegram, Mohammed Sabir used 'kashmirispice', Jordan Wallace used 'Kinkymofo99', Alan Keelan used 'baldy1984', Richard Townsend used 'Tricky Dicky 88', and Jonathan Kirk used 'bimale_nw'.
Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC said the husband began taking imagery of his wife while raping her 'when she was unaware' from September 2004, with further images from 2006 during assault by penetration. Emails from 2013 to 2017 were read to the jury, including one that said: "Would be good to watch that for real, shame she's not up for it. Where in the Nw are you. Would be good to see another guy enjoy her pics."
In 2014, the husband searched online for 'does Nytol actually work', 'buying prescription drugs online without getting burned', and 'effects of rohypnol'. In 2015, he searched for 'what happens if you mix Nytol with alcohol' and 'the relative dangers of combining alcohol and ketamine'. In 2016, he searched for terms including 'sleeping and liquid medication', 'ambien and alcohol', and 'ambien uk'. In 2017, he searched for 'tramadol and alcohol', 'where do people get date rape drugs from', and 'how to make GHB at home'.
Defendants and charges
The nine men on trial deny the charges. David Graves, 59, of Milton Avenue, Derbyshire, denies conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to commit assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. Robert Stewart, 70, of Sandpiper Drive, Stockport, denies conspiracy to rape and two counts of rape. Philip Wild, 58, of St Davids Road, Cheadle, denies conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to commit assault by penetration, sexual assault, attempted rape, and assault by penetration.
Daniel Rayner, 42, of Sherwood Drive, Whitstable, denies conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to commit assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. Mohammed Sabir, 28, of no fixed address, denies conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to commit assault by penetration, and three counts of rape. Jordan Wallace, 31, of Hindsford Close, Wythenshawe, denies conspiracy to rape, rape, and attempted rape.
Alan Keelan, 42, of Foscarn Drive, Wythenshawe, denies conspiracy to rape, two counts of attempted rape, and assault by penetration. Richard Townsend, 37, of Woodland Street, Heywood, denies conspiracy to assault by penetration and assault by penetration. Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Telford Close, Macclesfield, denies conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to commit assault by penetration, and rape.
Four other men pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to various offences linked to the case: Keith Fotheringham, 59, of Cleghorn Street, Dundee; Karl Lindsay, 56, of Wordsworth Drive, Taunton; Sean Peers, 38, formerly of Sandwich Road in Eccles, now of Stockport; and Graham Brougham, 74, of Birtwistle Road, Northwich, Cheshire. The trial continues.
