Reporting restrictions on identifying 12 co-defendants of a man accused of conspiring to drug and rape his unconscious wife have been lifted.
The men from across the UK, aged between 28 and 73, can now be publicly identified ahead of a trial in Manchester later this year.
In order to protect the anonymity of his wife, the husband, in his 60s, cannot be named.
From Stockport, Greater Manchester, he has admitted to some sexual offences against his wife, but will also face a jury after he denied drugging her for sex between 2004 and 2025.
He has also pleaded not guilty to conspiring with others to drug and rape his wife between 2018 and 2025.
Meanwhile, the other 12 defendants include Keith Fotheringham, 59, from Dundee, Scotland. He 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.
Also on trial on September 1 for allegedly having sexually abused the victim or helped supply substances to render her unconscious are David Graves, 59, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire; Daniel Rayner, 42, of Whitstable, Kent; and Karl Lindsay, 55, of Taunton, Somerset.
Lindsay is the former chief executive of Taunton Town Football Club. He stepped down from the position in November 2025, with the club issuing a statement today to confirm no association with him.
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.
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, a paramedic from Stockport who was photographed meeting Prince Harry in 2013, denies 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, 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.
Co-defendants named in full:
- Mohammed Sabir, 28, of no fixed abode
- Jordan Wallace, 31, from Manchester
- Sean Peers, 37, from Stockport
- Richard Townsend, 37, from Rochdale
- Alan Keelan, 42, from Manchester
- Jonathan Kirk, 43, from Stockport
- Philip Wild, 58, from Stockport
- Robert Stewart, 70, from Stockport
- Graham Brougham, 73, from Northwich, Cheshire
Not accused of contact offences against the victim, but allegedly conspired to abuse her in other ways:
- Daniel Rayner, 42, from Whitstable, Kent
- Karl Lindsay, 55, Taunton, Somerset
- David Graves, 59, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire
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 August 24, a week ahead of the scheduled 12-week trial.
Learn more about Rape Crisis England & Wales
Rape Crisis England & Wales is a charity working to end rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse – and all other forms of sexual violence.
Whether it happened recently, or a long time ago; whether you know without a doubt that you experienced sexual violence, or aren’t quite sure; whether it happened to you, or someone you know; Rape Crisis England & Wales will always believe you and listen to you, and they can offer you information and support.
You can find out more about Rape Crisis England & Wales here; and if you’re aged 16 or over, you can call the charity’s 24/7 support line for free on 0808 500 2222.