Court rules 13 men who allegedly helped rapist drug and abuse wife can be named
BBC News 2026-06-26 12:51:21
Context: A court in Manchester has ruled that 13 men accused of helping a rapist drug and abuse his wife can be named for the first time after reporting restrictions were lifted. The case involves a husband who allegedly conspired with the 13 men to drug and sexually abuse his wife, and he has pleaded guilty to some charges but will stand trial on others. The trial is set to take place at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in September.
Key Facts
- The 13 men who allegedly helped the rapist are now allowed to be named after reporting restrictions were lifted, and they include Keith Fotheringham, 59, from Dundee, Scotland, who has pleaded guilty to all charges he faced.
- The husband, who cannot be named to maintain his wife's anonymity, has 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.
- The other defendants, ranging in age from 28 to 73, are set to stand trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in September, and they include Philip Wild, Sean Peers, Jordan Wallace, Alan Keelan, Jonathan Kirk, Robert Stewart, Mohammed Sabir, Graham Brougham, Richard Townsend, Karl Lindsay, Daniel Rayner, and David Graves.
- The husband has also admitted sharing intimate photographs or film of his wife, without her consent, for sexual gratification, and 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 24 August, a week ahead of the scheduled 12-week trial.