A court has lifted reporting restrictions that had blocked the identification of 13 men charged alongside a husband accused of drugging and raping his unconscious wife over two decades. The main defendant, a Stockport man in his sixties, cannot be named to protect the anonymity of his wife. He has admitted five counts of rape and six other sexual offences against her, yet denies drugging her for sex between 2004 and 2025, and conspiring with others to drug and rape her between 2018 and 2025. He will stand trial alongside the 13 co-accused on September 1 at Manchester Crown Court.
Among those now named is Karl Lindsay, 55, of Taunton, Somerset, the former chief executive of Taunton Town Football Club, who stepped down in November 2025. The club issued a statement confirming no association with him. Lindsay denies conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. Also named is Jonathan Kirk, 43, a paramedic from Stockport who was photographed meeting Prince Harry in 2013. He denies rape, conspiracy to rape, and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Keith Fotheringham, 59, of Dundee, Scotland, has already admitted assault by penetration, conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. He entered his pleas in February and will be sentenced later.
“13 men charged alongside a husband accused of drugging and raping his wife can be named after court lifts reporting restrictions.”
The co-accused range in age from 28 to 73 and come from across the UK. Graham Brougham, 73, of Northwich, Cheshire, has pleaded not guilty to rape, conspiracy to rape, and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Philip Wild, 58, of Stockport, denies 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. 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, denies 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. David Graves, 59, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and Daniel Rayner, 42, of Whitstable, Kent, both deny conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.
The husband changed some of his pleas on Monday, after previously denying all 48 counts on the indictment involving his wife. The trial is expected to last several weeks.