The abuse unfolded over years at the couple's Stockport residence, beginning with the husband sharing assault footage online in 2004 before inviting strangers to participate from at least 2023. When authorities seized the husband's phone, they uncovered over one million photos and videos capturing the incapacitation and assaults. The nine defendants currently standing trial deny all charges, while prosecutors dismiss any defence claims of consensual role play. Recovered digital correspondence even showed one suspect warning the husband to destroy evidence following a comparable case in France.
Key points
Nine men are currently on trial in Manchester after denying all charges related to the wo…: Nine men are currently on trial in Manchester after denying all charges related to the woman's abuse.
Seven defendants face trial as alleged contact offenders who attended the residence, whil…: Seven defendants face trial as alleged contact offenders who attended the residence, while two face non-contact charges.
Prosecutors argue the accused knowingly assaulted an incapacitated victim and firmly reje…: Prosecutors argue the accused knowingly assaulted an incapacitated victim and firmly reject any defence claims of consensual role play.
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A woman who believed she had not had sex for nine years had in fact been regularly drugged and raped by her own husband and a group of strangers "whose depravity knew no bounds", a jury has been told.
Her husband led a "double life", prosecutors said, regularly giving his wife a "stupefying cocktail" of drugs to make her "completely unaware" of the abuse.
He and four men have already pleaded guilty to a series of offences, but the trial of nine other defendants who deny all charges began at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Louise Oakley KC said the wife had been "happy" but "the life she knew ended when the police knocked on the front door".
Before the case was opened, trial judge Maurice Greene warned jurors they would be expected to view evidence that could provoke feelings of "upset and anger".
As Oakley opened the case they were shown videos of the woman being raped and sexually assaulted while, the prosecution said, she…
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