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An Ilkeston man is among nine defendants standing trial in a major sexual offences case in which prosecutors allege he arranged to supply tablets to a husband who has admitted drugging and sexually abusing his wife.
David Graves, 60, of Ilkeston, is appearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, where the prosecution opened its case on Monday 2 November.
Jurors heard further details of the allegations against him and the other defendants on Tuesday 3 November.
The case concerns a woman whose husband has admitted sexually abusing her over more than 20 years.
The man, who is in his 60s and from the Stockport area, has pleaded guilty to 62 offences, including rape, sexual assault and administering a substance with intent.
He cannot be named because doing so could identify his wife, who has a legal right to anonymity.
Four other men have also pleaded guilty to offences connected with the case, while nine defendants remain on trial and deny the charges against them.
Prosecution outlines allegations
Opening the case, prosecutor Louise Oakley KC told jurors that the husband had sexually abused his wife while she was asleep or unconscious over a period spanning more than 20 years.
The court heard that he photographed and filmed the abuse and shared images with men he contacted online.
According to the prosecution, some of those men encouraged further offending and discussed ways of incapacitating the woman without her knowledge.
Prosecutors also allege that the husband invited other men to the couple’s home, where some sexually assaulted the woman while she was unconscious.
Jurors were told that the abuse came to light following an investigation into an online messaging group, which led police to identify the husband and examine material found on his mobile phone.
The prosecution alleges that the defendants were aware the woman was unconscious or otherwise unable to consent to the sexual activity.
All nine defendants contest the allegations against them.
Allegations involving Ilkeston man
On Tuesday 3 November, the prosecution outlined allegations concerning David Graves.
Jurors were told that Graves and the husband had discussed finding a substance that would render the woman unconscious.
Prosecutors alleged that Graves arranged to send tablets to the husband in connection with the planned abuse.
The court also heard allegations that the two men exchanged messages about the abuse and that Graves became impatient when images he had been promised were delayed.
These claims form part of the prosecution’s case and have not been established as facts against Graves.
Graves denies conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.
He is not accused of personally carrying out a sexual assault against the woman.
Nine men remain on trial
The prosecution alleges that some of the defendants encouraged or facilitated the abuse remotely, while others physically participated in sexual assaults.
Alongside Graves, the eight other defendants are Daniel Rayner, Philip Wild, Mohammed Sabir, Jonathan Kirk, Jordan Wallace, Alan Keelan, Robert Stewart and Richard Townsend.
All nine deny the charges against them.
Four other men have previously pleaded guilty to offences connected with the case.
They are Keith Fotheringham, Sean Peers, Graham Brougham and Karl Lindsay.
The husband and the four other men who have pleaded guilty are awaiting sentencing.
Trial expected to continue for several months
The prosecution’s opening follows a series of delays after jurors were originally sworn in during September.
The trial, before Judge Maurice Greene, is expected to continue for approximately three months.
The husband’s guilty pleas establish his own offending against his wife, while the guilty pleas of the four other men relate to their own offences.
None of those guilty pleas establishes the guilt of Graves or any of the nine defendants who remain on trial.
The trial continues.