Jurors chosen for UK husband accused of drugging, raping wife with other men

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — A jury was selected Wednesday for the trial of a husband and 12 other men accused of sexual offenses against a woman whom prosecutors say was drugged and sexually abused at her partner’s behest over more than two decades.Five men and seven women were chosen for the jury at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, northern England, which handles serious criminal cases in England and Wales.Two women were selected as alternative jurors.Judge Maurice Greene sent the jurors home until Thursday.“Because it is a lengthy case, I have to make sure that the 12 who are ultimately this jury is going to be available throughout,” Greene said.The trial centers on a man in his 60s from Stockport, a town in Greater Manchester, who is not being named to protect his wife.Under the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992, victims of sexual offenses are given lifelong anonymity. Publication of information that is likely to identify them is prohibited.The husband initially denied all 48 charges against him but pleaded guilty in June to 15 offenses involving his wife.They include five counts of rape, six counts of assault by penetration, three counts of sexual assault and sharing intimate images or film without her consent.He denies 33 other charges, including conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, administering a substance with intent and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.Prosecutors say the drugging took place between 2004 and 2025, while the other men’s involvement dates from 2018 to 2025.Parallels to Gisèle Pelicot caseThe case bears similarities to the mass rape trial in France involving Gisèle Pelicot, whose husband Dominique Pelicot admitted drugging her and arranging for dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious.A French court convicted all 51 defendants in December 2024 and sentenced Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison.The Manchester trial follows a similar pattern.The 12 co-defendants on trial range in age from 28 to 73 and come from across the U.K.They face charges including rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration and conspiracies to rape, commit sexual assault or administer a substance with intent.Among them is Jonathan Kirk, 43, a paramedic from Stockport who faces charges including rape and conspiracy to rape.Karl Lindsay, 55, a former chief executive of Taunton Town Football Club, faces conspiracy charges including conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.Other defendants include former youth soccer coach Alan Keelan, 42, and Robert Stewart, 70, both of whom face rape and conspiracy to rape charges. Jordan Wallace, 31, is charged with rape, attempted rape and conspiracy to rape.Mohammed Sabir, 28, of Cheadle, faces rape, conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to assault by penetration charges. Philip Wild, 58, also of Cheadle, faces conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, attempted rape and assault by penetration charges.Richard Townsend, 37, of Heywood, and Sean Peers, 38, of Stockport, both face charges of assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration.Daniel Rayner, 42, of Whitstable, Kent, and David Graves, 59, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, are each charged with conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.Graham Brougham, 73, of Northwich, Cheshire, faces charges of rape, conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to assault by penetration.All 12 men deny the charges.A 13th co-defendant, Keith Fotheringham, 59, of Dundee, Scotland, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, conspiracy to administer a substance with intent and assault by penetration.He remains in custody and will be sentenced later.The trial is due to resume Thursday, when the court is expected to begin hearing the prosecution’s case.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads