Husband who drugged and raped wife for 20 years no longer part of trial
BBC News
The other defendants in the case are alleged to have sexually abused her since September 2018.
A 14th man has also pleaded guilty to sexual offences against the woman.
On Wednesday morning the court heard that when the jurors were sworn in on 4 September they were given a questionnaire which included a short summary of the prosecution case.
Trial judge Maurice Greene told them: “You were told, amongst other things, that the prosecution case concerns allegations of sexual offences by a number of men on a female.
“You were told 14 men had been identified and one was [her husband].
“No doubt you will be wondering why you have not been back since.
“Some of you may have seen or heard on the news on Monday that a man from Stockport had pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his wife, and had admitted multiple offences including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and administering a substance with intent.
“Now his identity is prohibited in the public domain to protect [his wife’s] identity. Logical and obvious you may think.
“Of course the man who pleaded guilty was [the husband], so he will no longer be a defendant in this case. As a result of these pleas there is work to be done by parties in this case.”
The other accused men are:
Philip Wild, 58, from Stockport
Sean Peers, 38, from Stockport
Jordan Wallace, 31, from Manchester
Alan Keelan, 42, from Manchester
Jonathan Kirk, 43, from Stockport
Robert Stewart, 70, from Stockport
Mohammed Sabir, 28, of no fixed abode
Graham Brougham, 74, from Northwich, Cheshire
Richard Townsend, 37, from Rochdale
Karl Lindsay, 55, Taunton, Somerset
Daniel Rayner, 42, from, Whitstable, Kent
David Graves, 59, from, Ilkeston, Derbyshire
Judge Greene told the jury he expected the prosecution to open the case on 5 October and that the trial should be completed by 18 December.
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