A man in his 60s from the Stockport area of Greater Manchester has pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his wife repeatedly over a period spanning more than 20 years. At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, the defendant admitted to 60 charges, including multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, administering substances with the intent to stupefy or overpower, and sharing intimate photographs or videos without consent. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2004 and October 2025 at the family home in Stockport.
During the hearing, which lasted around 18 to 20 minutes, the man showed visible emotion, sobbing and breaking down as he entered his guilty pleas. Judge Maurice Greene allowed him to sit down after his voice broke. The victim attended the court sitting in the public gallery, accompanied and supported by family members, where she appeared distressed on several occasions.
The charges against the husband include administering drugs or alcohol to incapacitate his wife before engaging in sexual activities without her knowledge or consent. The court heard that the abuse continued over two decades, with some assaults occurring while the wife was unconscious or compromised. The defendant also admitted to sharing intimate imagery of his wife.
In addition to the husband’s guilty pleas, 13 other men, aged between 28 and 74, face charges linked to the same victim. These offences include rape, conspiracy to rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. All of the accused deny the allegations, except for one man who has pleaded guilty to all charges.
Among the defendants are individuals from diverse backgrounds including a former football club executive, a university technician, a senior paramedic, a taxi driver, and a youth football coach. Notably, Keith Fotheringham, a 59-year-old university technician from Dundee, has admitted to charges including conspiracy to rape and assault by penetration. The others, such as Jonathan Kirk, a former senior paramedic, and Karl Lindsay, former chief executive of Taunton Town FC, have denied the charges.
The case has been described by Greater Manchester Police as a complex and serious investigation, with authorities emphasizing ongoing support for the victim. Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson highlighted the importance of victim support throughout the legal proceedings.
A trial for the remaining defendants is scheduled to begin in October and is expected to last for at least two months. The proceedings will further examine the allegations against the accused as they maintain their pleas of not guilty.