A husband who admitted drugging and raping his wife over two decades will go on trial in September alongside 13 other men – including a senior paramedic photographed with Prince Harry and a former football club chief executive – after a court lifted reporting restrictions to allow their identification.
The main defendant, a Stockport man in his sixties, cannot be named to protect the anonymity of his wife. He pleaded guilty on Monday to five counts of rape and six other sexual offences against her, but denies drugging her for sex between 2004 and 2025 and conspiring with others to do the same between 2018 and 2025.
“A paramedic and a former football boss are among 14 men charged as a husband admits drugging and raping his wife.”
Among the 12 co-defendants now publicly identified 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.
Karl Lindsay, 55, of Taunton, Somerset – the former chief executive of Taunton Town Football Club who stepped down in November 2025 – is also charged. 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.
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 to stupefy or overpower. He entered his pleas in February and will be sentenced later.
Other defendants – aged from 28 to 73 – all deny their charges. Graham Brougham, 73, of Northwich, Cheshire, denies rape, conspiracy to rape, and conspiracy to assault by penetration. Philip Wild, 58, of Stockport, denies attempted rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and conspiracy charges. Mohammed Sabir, 28, also of Stockport, denies three counts of rape and related conspiracies.
Sean Peers, 37, of Stockport, denies 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.
The men will appear at Manchester Crown Court on September 1, where the husband will face a jury on the charges he denies. The court allowed their naming to protect the anonymity of the victim, who was allegedly drugged and abused over more than two decades.