UK man pleads guilty to drugging and raping his wife for 20 years

By Kara Fox, CNN

London (CNN) — A British man has admitted to drugging and raping his wife without her knowledge for a period of more than two decades.

The man pleaded guilty to dozens of offenses in a court in Manchester, northern England, on Monday – including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and administering a substance with intent.

The man is in his 60s and cannot be named to protect his wife’s anonymity.

He initially denied all the charges before pleading guilty this summer to five counts of rape, six counts of assault by penetration, three counts of sexual assault and one count of sharing intimate images of his wife without her consent. He has now pleaded guilty to a total of 60 offenses.

The man’s wife sat in the courtroom on Monday as he entered his plea.

Twelve other men, whose ages range between 28 and 74 and who come from across the United Kingdom, are also accused of sexual offenses against the same woman. Those men have denied all of the charges against them and will stand trial in Manchester.

Prosecutors are expected to open their case this week.

In a statement from Greater Manchester Police, Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said Monday that the force’s focus “remains on supporting the victim of this horrific campaign of abuse through what is a very complex investigation,” adding that she continues to receive specialist support.

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CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne contributed to this report.