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Ex-football chief admits offences linked to woman's drugging and rape by husband

Rowan BridgeReporting from Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court
BBC Karl Lindsay, in his 50s, who is bald and clean shaven, stands on a football pitch wearing a blue gilet over a black sweatshirt and smiles at the camera.BBC
Karl Lindsay was the chief executive of Taunton Town Football Club

A former football club chief executive has pleaded guilty to offences relating to the drugging and raping of a woman by her husband and others.

Karl Lindsay, 56, who resigned from non-league Taunton Town Football Club in Somerset before he was charged, has admitted the offences, which happened between 2015 and 2025.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Lindsay's offending related to the rape of the woman by her husband and others in the Stockport area of Greater Manchester, and the administration of substances to stupefy her for the purpose of sexual acts.

The woman's husband, who is in his 60s and cannot be named to protect his wife's anonymity, has already admitted 62 offences against his wife, including rape.

The woman at the centre of the case was in court with one of her relatives and watched Lindsay intently as he entered his guilty pleas.

Three other men, Keith Fotheringham, 59, from Dundee, Scotland, Sean Peers, 38, from Stockport, and Graham Brougham, 74, from Northwich, have already admitted sexually abusing her at previous hearings.

The trial of nine other defendants accused of sexual offences against the woman has been scheduled to start on Monday after a series of delays.

A composite image of three of the defendants - one is bald with an earring and has a big beard, the other is in a green uniform with brown hair and the oter is in a black zip up top with curly hair, a beard and earrings
Alan Keelan, Jonathan Kirk and Jordan Wallace deny the charges against them and, along with six others, will go on trial next week

The men are all alleged to have committed offences between 2015 and 2025.

The other defendants are:

  • Philip Wild, 58, from Stockport
  • Jordan Wallace, 31, from Manchester
  • Alan Keelan, 42, from Manchester
  • Jonathan Kirk, 43, from Stockport
  • Robert Stewart, 70, from Stockport
  • Mohammed Sabir, 28, of no fixed abode
  • Richard Townsend, 37, from Rochdale
  • Daniel Rayner, 42, from Whitstable, Kent
  • David Graves, 59, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire

Lindsay was told he would be sentenced at the conclusion of that trial.

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