A man in his 60s from Stockport, England, faces trial charged with raping and sexually abusing his wife. The trial, held in Manchester, involves a dozen other men accused of participating in the alleged abuse or assisting it.

According to British police, the husband is suspected of conspiring with others to drug and assault his wife while she was unconscious. As per U.K. law, his identity is withheld to protect the wife’s anonymity, the alleged victim in this case.

The husband faces 48 charges, including five counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, six counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sharing intimate images or videos. Initially denying all charges, he later admitted to 15 counts. Charges he disputes include 11 counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, and various conspiracy and assault-related offenses, according to Greater Manchester police.

The other defendants are charged with crimes related to the sexual abuse and the administration of substances intended to incapacitate the victim. Ages of the accused range from 28 to 73.

This case has been compared to a notable French trial involving Gisèle Pelicot. In 2024, Pelicot testified against her ex-husband and 51 men, alleging mass rape. Pelicot renounced her anonymity for public proceedings, resulting in convictions for all involved, with her ex-husband receiving a 20-year sentence.