A man accused of conspiring with his wife to drug her so that other men could sexually assault her has pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offences, a court has heard.
Guilty Plea Entered at Court Hearing
The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday where he admitted charges including administering a substance with intent to cause a sexual offence, and sexual assault. The charges relate to incidents between 2017 and 2023.
Prosecutor Jane Osborne told the court that the man had conspired with his wife to drug her with sedatives, after which she would be unable to consent to sexual activity. The couple would then invite other men to have sex with her, the court heard.
Details of the Conspiracy
Osborne said the man and his wife, who has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to administer a substance with intent to cause a sexual offence, used messaging apps to arrange the drugging and assaults. The wife, also unnamed, admitted her role in the plot earlier this year.
“The defendant and his wife worked together to identify potential victims, though in this case the victim was the wife herself,” Osborne said. “They discussed dosages of drugs and how to ensure she was incapacitated.”
Additional Charges and Victims
The man also admitted to sexually assaulting two other women, aged 19 and 24, between 2018 and 2021. In one instance, he drugged a 19-year-old woman’s drink before assaulting her at a party. The court heard that he used a similar modus operandi in each case, targeting vulnerable women.
According to the prosecution, the man had a “callous disregard” for his victims’ wellbeing. “He treated them as objects for his own gratification,” Osborne said.
Impact and Sentencing
Judge Mark Lucraft KC adjourned sentencing until a later date, ordering a pre-sentence report. The man was remanded in custody. The wife is due to be sentenced later this year.
Detective Constable Sarah Jones of the Metropolitan Police said: “This was a disturbing case of manipulation and abuse. We welcome the guilty plea and hope it brings some closure to the victims.”
