Full story
Charges in Manchester case
A UK case at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court centers on a husband from the Stockport area of Greater Manchester, who is accused of drugging and sexually abusing his wife over a 20-year period and conspiring with other men to engage in sexual assaults.
“- Published The co-accused of a rapist who allegedly conspired with other men to drug and sexually abuse his wife can be named for the first time after reporting restrictions were lifted”
The husband, who cannot be named to protect his wife’s anonymity, has admitted five counts of rape and a string of sexual offences, while he denied 33 other charges and is due to stand trial over alleged offences between 2004 and 2025.
Reporting restrictions were lifted ahead of the trial, allowing the identities of 13 men charged alongside the husband to be revealed, including Keith Fotheringham, 59, from Dundee, Scotland, who pleaded guilty to assault by penetration and conspiracy offences.
Sky News said the man in his 60s was charged with 48 offences alleging he drugged his wife to rape and sexually assault her on his own over more than two decades since 2004, and that between 2018 and his arrest last year he allegedly plotted with other men while she was unconscious.
BBC reported that the case involves 13 other men alleged to have sexually abused the victim or helped supply substances to render her unconscious, including at her Stockport home.
Named defendants and pleas
Among the co-defendants, Keith Fotheringham, 59, from Dundee, Scotland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to commit assault by penetration, conspiracy to administer a substance and assault by penetration, while the other dozen men denied the charges against them.
The BBC said Jonathan Kirk, a paramedic, was pictured shaking hands with Prince Harry in 2013, and it also identified Karl Lindsay as the former chief executive of Taunton Town Football Club.
Sky News described Karl Lindsay as having resigned as the CEO of Taunton Town FC around the time of his arrest in November last year, and it said he is accused of supplying the drugs used to incapacitate the alleged victim, organising the abuse and receiving photos and videos of the alleged attacks in return.
In the same case, Sky News said Daniel Rayner, 41, from Whitstable, Kent, and David Graves, 59, from Derbyshire, are also not accused of any contact offences and have denied the same charges.
The Independent reported that the husband changed some of his pleas after previously denying all 48 counts, pleading 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.
Trial timeline and next steps
The husband is set to face a jury on other charges which he denies, including administering a substance with intent to engage in sexual activity between 2004 and 2025, and conspiring with others to drug and rape his wife between 2018 and 2025.
BBC said a further preliminary hearing will be held on 24 August, a week ahead of the scheduled 12-week trial, while it also reported that the husband changed some of his pleas on Monday after previously denying all 48 counts.
The Independent said the reporting restrictions were lifted ahead of a trial in Manchester later this year, and it listed that on 1 September the case is due to stand trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Sky News said all of the other dozen men are due to face a 15-week trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court from 1 September alongside the husband.
In a statement released today, BBC reported that Taunton Town FC said it has no ongoing association with Karl Lindsay and expects the highest levels of conduct from all those associated with it.
