A pensioner has admitted raping a woman who was drugged by her husband for more than 20 years.
Graham Brougham, 74, of Northwich, Cheshire, was due to go on trial with 10 other men who all deny various allegations involving sexual offending against the same woman. On Thursday, Brougham entered the dock at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court and admitted an offence of rape in 2024.
Victim in court as plea changed
His victim sat in the public gallery and held hands with a relative as they both looked intently across the courtroom at the defendant as he entered his changed plea. Judge Maurice Greene renewed Brougham's bail until a sentencing date to be fixed but told him: “You should be under no illusion, the sentence will be custody and a long time.”
Other defendants change pleas
Last week another co-defendant Sean Peers, 38, of Stockport, changed his plea as he admitted a single count of assault by penetration and was bailed ahead of sentencing. The husband pleaded guilty last month to multiple sexual offences against his wife including rape and administering a substance with intent.
He remains in custody and will also be sentenced at a later date. The man in his 60, from Stockport, cannot be identified to protect the anonymity of his wife.
Trial of remaining defendants
Jurors have been sworn in to hear the trial of the remaining 10 defendants and are now due to return to court on November 2 when the prosecution is expected to open its case.
On trial are David Graves, 60, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire; Daniel Rayner, 42, of Whitstable, Kent; Karl Lindsay, 56, of Taunton, Somerset; Philip Wild, 59, of Stockport; Mohammed Sabir, 28, of Stockport; Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Stockport; Jordan Wallace, 31, of Wythenshawe; Alan Keelan, 42, of Wythenshawe; Robert Stewart, 70, of Stockport, and Richard Townsend, 38, of Heywood.
