Husband who drugged and raped wife for 20 years no longer part of trial

The husband accused of drugging and raping his wife for two decades will no longer stand trial after pleading guilty to a series of sexual offences, the court heard on Wednesday. Earlier that day, the tribunal learned that jurors sworn in on 4 September had been given a questionnaire containing a brief summary of the prosecution case. Judge Maurice Greene addressed the panel, saying: “You were told, amongst different things, that the prosecution lawsuit concerns allegations of intersexual offences by a fig of men connected a female.” He continued: “You were told 14 men had been identified and 1 was [her husband].” He added: “No uncertainty you volition beryllium wondering wherefore you person not been backmost since.” Greene noted that some jurors may have seen or heard reports on Monday that “a antheral from Stockport had pleaded blameworthy to drugging and raping his wife, and had admitted aggregate offences including rape, attempted rape, intersexual battle and administering a substance with intent.” He stressed: “Now his individuality is prohibited successful the nationalist domain to support [his wife's] identity. Logical and evident you whitethorn think.” The judge concluded: “Of people the antheral who pleaded blameworthy was [the husband], truthful helium volition nary longer beryllium a suspect successful this case. As a effect of these pleas determination is enactment to beryllium done by parties successful this case.” The remaining defendants named in the proceedings are: - Philip Wild, 58, from Stockport - Sean Peers, 38, from Stockport - Jordan Wallace, 31, from Manchester - Alan Keelan, 42, from Manchester - Jonathan Kirk, 43, from Stockport - Robert Stewart, 70, from Stockport - Mohammed Sabir, 28, of nary fixed abode - Graham Brougham, 74, from Northwich, Cheshire - Richard Townsend, 37, from Rochdale - Karl Lindsay, 55, Taunton, Somerset - Daniel Rayner, 42, from Whitstable, Kent - David Graves, 59, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire Judge Greene said he expects the prosecution to open the case on 5 October, with the trial scheduled to conclude by 18 December.