Karl Lindsay, 55, the former chief executive of Taunton Town Football Club, has denied charges of conspiring to drug and rape a woman alongside 12 other men, including the woman’s husband.
Lindsay, who resigned from his position at the non-league club last year, was publicly announced as having stepped down in November; however, the club made no further comment on the circumstances.
The woman’s husband, in his 60s and from Stockport, Greater Manchester, is set to stand trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester starting Tuesday. He faces multiple allegations relating to offences committed against his wife, including accusations of drugging her for sexual purposes spanning from 2004 to 2025. Due to legal restrictions aimed at protecting the identity of the woman, her husband remains unnamed.
The accused man has pleaded not guilty to a range of charges, including conspiring with others to drug and rape his wife between 2018 and 2025.
Alongside him, twelve other men are to appear in court charged with various sexual offences.
Among the defendants, Lindsay faces charges of conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. Others include:
- David Graves, 59, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, denies similar charges.
- Daniel Rayner, 42, of Whitstable, Kent, denies the same conspiracy charges.
- Graham Brougham, 73, of Northwich, Cheshire, denies charges including rape and conspiracy to assault by penetration.
- Philip Wild, 58, of Stockport, denies multiple counts including attempted rape and sexual assault.
- Mohammed Sabir, 28, of Stockport, denies several charges of rape and conspiracy.
- Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Stockport, denies charges including rape and conspiracy.
- Sean Peers, 38, of Stockport, denies assault by penetration and related conspiracy charges.
- Jordan Wallace, 31, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, denies rape, attempted rape, and conspiracy to rape.
- Alan Keelan, 42, of Wythenshawe, and Robert Stewart, 70, of Stockport, both deny two counts of rape and conspiracy to rape.
- Richard Townsend, 37, of Heywood, Greater Manchester, denies assault by penetration and conspiracy to assault by penetration.
The husband faces numerous charges including 11 counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, seven counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, and several counts of conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to administer substances with intent.
The trial is anticipated to last approximately 12 weeks, during which all defendants will enter formal pleas and the court will hear evidence related to the allegations.