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Nine men accused of abusing a drugged wife were snared by a million images on her husband's phone, jury hears

Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, where nine men are on trial accused of raping a Stockport woman whose husband filmed more than one million photographs and videos of the abuse over two decades.
Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, where nine men are on trial accused of raping a Stockport woman whose husband filmed more than one million photographs and videos of the abuse over two decades.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC told jurors at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court that the husband, in his 60s from Stockport, had drugged his wife repeatedly over 20 years before inviting strangers to rape her unconscious body. His Samsung S25 phone — described as acting "like a confessional" — held a secure folder labelled "visits" containing footage of multiple men carrying out sexual acts on the woman. The husband pleaded guilty in September to multiple offences including rape and administering a substance with intent; nine co-defendants, aged between 28 and 70, deny all charges.

One defendant, Robert Stewart, 70, messaged the husband after a visit: 'Delete all images — remember what happened to the guy in France.'

The 'guy in France' reference was to Dominique Pelicot, whose case involving his wife Gisele became world famous; jurors were told the defendants knew the victim was not consenting.

In a separate but parallel trial at Winchester Crown Court, former Tory councillor Philip Young has already pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his own wife Joanne over 13 years in Swindon.

MoreDaily MailNine men who abused wife who was drugged and raped were snared after one million images found on her husband's phone, court hearsThe TelegraphTory councillor got ‘thrill’ from pregnancy risk to ‘drugged and raped’ wifeLBCWife drugged and raped by husband in case 'echoing Gisele Pelicot' was victim of ‘barbaric fantasy’, court hearsMetroSuspect in 'drugging and raping' of woman text husband 'Mate have bad feeling'GB NewsMan who drugged his wife and allegedly allowed strangers to rape her had over 'one million photographs and videos of the abuse,’ court toldThe TimesJoanne Young rape trial: man was ‘uncomfortable’ but carried on
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