A man in his 60s from Stockport has admitted to a years-long campaign of sexual abuse against his wife, including drugging and raping her over a period stretching more than two decades.
The man, who cannot be identified because doing so could reveal the identity of his wife, pleaded guilty to a total of 60 offences at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. He had previously admitted 15 charges and entered guilty pleas to the remaining 45 on September 14.
The offences date back to 2004 and continued until 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police and court reporting.
What did the man admit in court?
Greater Manchester Police said the man had already pleaded guilty to five counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, six counts of assault by penetration and one count involving the sharing of intimate photographs or film.
He subsequently admitted 45 additional offences, bringing the total to 60. The latest charges included 16 counts of rape, nine counts of assault by penetration, seven counts of sexual assault, four counts of attempted rape, eight other sexual offences and one count of administering a substance with intent.
He also admitted administering a substance with the intention of stupefying or overpowering his wife so as to enable sexual activity, an offence covering conduct between 2004 and 2025.
How long did the abuse continue?
The criminal conduct spanned more than 20 years.
Police said the earliest offences date to 2004, while the later offences continued until the man’s arrest in October 2025.
The case is part of a much wider investigation into alleged drug-facilitated sexual abuse involving the same woman.
According to prosecutors and police, the investigation also involves other men accused of sexually abusing the woman between 2018 and 2025.
What happened with the other men accused?
Thirteen other men have been linked to the broader investigation.
One has already pleaded guilty to offences connected to the case. Twelve others face trial and have denied the allegations against them. The defendants range in age from their 20s to their 70s.
The allegations against those defendants are separate from the husband’s guilty pleas, meaning their cases still have to be determined by the courts.
The trial involving the remaining defendants is being heard at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court and is expected to run for several weeks.
What is known about the victim?
The woman has a legal right to lifelong anonymity under UK law, which is why the defendant’s name has also been withheld where publication could identify her.
She attended the September 14 hearing with family members and was visibly emotional during the proceedings. Reports said she was seen wiping away tears as her husband entered his guilty pleas.
Greater Manchester Police said specialist support continues to be provided to her as the wider investigation proceeds.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said the force’s focus remained on supporting the victim through what he described as a “very complex investigation”.
Why is drug-facilitated sexual abuse particularly difficult to detect?
Drug-facilitated abuse can leave victims with incomplete memories or no clear recollection of what happened.
That can make it difficult for victims to immediately understand or report an assault, particularly when the person responsible is someone they know or trust.
Greater Manchester Police has emphasized that people who believe they may have experienced drug-facilitated sexual abuse do not need complete certainty or a perfect memory before seeking help.
The warning is particularly relevant in cases where the alleged abuse took place over long periods and evidence had to be pieced together retrospectively.
Why was the husband not identified?
UK law provides victims of sexual offences with lifelong anonymity.
Because publicly naming the husband could potentially identify his wife, the court has protected his identity from publication.
This is not an indication that the allegations are unproven. In this case, the man has admitted the offences in court and is awaiting sentencing.
The separate defendants in the wider investigation remain accused and have denied the charges against them.
What happens to the man now?
The husband remains in custody pending sentencing.
He will be sentenced after the conclusion of the trial involving the other defendants connected to the wider investigation.
The case is therefore not yet completely finished, even though the man’s own criminal liability for the 60 offences has been established through his guilty pleas.
What police are urging victims to know
Greater Manchester Police has used the case to encourage anyone concerned about drug-facilitated sexual abuse to come forward.
The force stressed that a person does not need to have proof, certainty or a complete memory of an incident before seeking help.
That message is particularly important in cases involving suspected drugging, where the effects of substances can make recollection difficult and may delay disclosure.
The investigation surrounding the Stockport woman remains one of the most complex sexual-abuse cases currently before the Manchester courts.
