A man has pleaded guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting his wife over a period spanning more than 20 years, without her ever being aware of the abuse.
The defendant, whose identity is being withheld to protect the victim, had been scheduled to face trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court this week. Instead, on Monday, he unexpectedly reversed course and entered guilty pleas to 45 charges covering offences committed between 2004 and 2025.
The man, in his 60s and living in the Stockport area of Greater Manchester, broke down in tears as he admitted to the charges, which include 21 counts of rape committed against his wife. According to evidence presented in court, he carried out the abuse while she was incapacitated by alcohol, drugs, or a mixture of both.
His wife was present in the courtroom’s public gallery as he confirmed his guilt, flanked by two relatives for support. She was seen wiping away tears at several points during the proceedings. Reading out the complete list of charges took a court clerk roughly 20 minutes.
Under UK law, victims of sexual offences are automatically granted anonymity for life.
The case extends beyond this one defendant — thirteen additional men face serious sexual offence charges connected to the same victim. Among them: Keith Fotheringham, 59, a former University of Dundee technician who has admitted guilt on all counts; Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Stockport, a former senior paramedic with 14-plus years at North West Ambulance Service who denies the rape charge against him (news archives note he once met Prince Harry during a 2011 royal visit tied to the Greater Manchester riots); Alan Keelan, previously a youth football coach; Philip Wild, 58, a taxi driver; and Karl Lindsay, 55, once chief executive of Taunton Town football club.
The trial involving the remaining defendants is expected to run for up to 15 weeks.
