A man on trial over the drugging and raping of a woman by her husband messaged him saying, ‘Remember what happened to the guy in France’, a court has heard.
Robert Stewart, 70, is among nine men on trial over allegations he took part in the abuse of a woman by her husband.
The husband, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his wife, took pleasure that she was unaware of their offending as part of their ‘barbaric fantasies’, to drug and sexually abuse her while taking and sharing photos and videos of the abuse, a jury has heard.
At the start of their trial, expected to last around three months, at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Louise Oakley KC told jurors that ‘the man in France’ referred to the world-famous case of Gisele Pelicot.
Ms Oakley, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury that Stewart had messaged the husband within hours of visiting their home and told him: ‘Mate have had a bad feeling about it all day.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
‘Delete all images from your phone etc as its too risky.
‘Remember what happened to the guy in France.
‘Delete me from your phone and life. If she caught you out it would be a whole lot of trouble and end your marriage and ruin your life.’
Ms Oakley told the jury: ‘As you will no doubt remember, ‘the guy in France’, the man in France, who had been raping his wife, a lady by the name of Gisele Pelicot.’
(Picture: REUTERS)
It is alleged the husband, in his 60s from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and the nine defendants ‘led double lives’ and had hidden their depravity, which ‘knew no bounds’.
The prosecutor said all the defendants knew the wife was not a willing participant, was not consenting and they did not reasonably believe she was consenting.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty to multiple alleged offenses.
The trial continues.