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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Amy-Clare Martin and Kim Pilling

Thirteen men named in husband’s alleged plot to drug and rape unconscious wife

(L-R) Co-defendants Sean Peers; Jordan Wallace; Graham Brougham; Jonathan Kirk and Alan Keelan arriving at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court - (PA)

The names of 13 men charged alongside a husband accused of drugging and raping his unconscious wife have been revealed.

Reporting restrictions on identifying the men from across the UK were lifted ahead of a trial in Manchester later this year.

The husband, in his sixties and from the Stockport area of Greater Manchester, is accused of drugging and sexually abusing his wife over a 20-year period and conspiring with other men to engage in the sexual assaults. He cannot be named to protect the anonymity of his wife.

He has admitted five counts of rape and a string of sexual offences against his wife, as well as sharing intimate photographs or film without her consent.

However, he has denied 33 other charges, including 11 counts of rape, and is due to stand trial over the alleged offences between 2004 and 2025.

Another defendant, Keith Fotheringham, 59, from Dundee, Scotland, has admitted assault by penetration, conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower. Fotheringham entered his pleas in February and will be sentenced at a later date.

Alan Keelan denies two counts of rape and conspiracy to rape (PA)
Alan Keelan denies two counts of rape and conspiracy to rape (PA)

Also due to stand trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on 1 September are David Graves, 59, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire; Daniel Rayner, 42, of Whitstable, Kent, and Karl Lindsay, 55, of Taunton, Somerset.

They all deny conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.

Graham Brougham, 73, of Northwich, Cheshire, has pleaded not guilty to rape, conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to assault by penetration.

Graham Brougham has pleaded not guilty to charges including rape and conspiracy to rape (PA)
Graham Brougham has pleaded not guilty to charges including rape and conspiracy to rape (PA)

Philip Wild, 58, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, has pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to assault by penetration.

Mohammed Sabir, 28, of Stockport, denies three counts of rape, conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to assault by penetration.

Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Stockport, denies rape, conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to assault by penetration.

Sean Peers has pleaded not guilty to assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration (PA)
Sean Peers has pleaded not guilty to assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration (PA)

Sean Peers, 37, of Stockport, has pleaded not guilty to assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration.

Jordan Wallace, 31, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, has pleaded not guilty to rape, attempted rape and conspiracy to rape.

Alan Keelan, 42, of Wythenshawe, and Robert Stewart, 70, of Stockport, both deny two counts of rape and conspiracy to rape,

Richard Townsend, 37, of Heywood, Greater Manchester, denies assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration.

Jordan Wallace has pleaded not guilty to rape, attempted rape and conspiracy to rape (PA)
Jordan Wallace has pleaded not guilty to rape, attempted rape and conspiracy to rape (PA)

On Monday, the husband changed some of his pleas after he previously denied all 48 counts he faced on the indictment involving his wife.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of rape, six counts of assault by penetration and three counts of sexual assault on various dates between 2022 and 2025.

He also admitted sharing intimate photographs or film of his wife, without her consent, for sexual gratification.

He denies 11 counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, seven counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, four counts of conspiracy to rape, three counts of conspiracy to assault by penetration, one count of conspiracy to administer a substance with intent and one count of administering a substance with intent.

A further preliminary hearing will be held at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on 24 August, a week ahead of the scheduled 12-week trial.

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