A man has appeared in court accused of conspiring with others to drug his wife and rape her while she was unconscious.
The man, in his 60s and from the Stockport area of Greater Manchester, is also charged with raping and sexually assaulting his wife over a 20-year period.
He was arrested last year and, on Friday, pleaded not guilty to 48 charges, including multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, at Manchester Minshull Street crown court.
He appeared in the dock alongside 12 other men, whose ages range from 28 to 73. Five are from Stockport, three from elsewhere in Greater Manchester, one from Cheshire and three from other parts of the UK.
They face a range of allegations, including conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, rape and sexual assault.
One man, in his 50s and from Dundee, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape, assault by penetration and conspiracy to administer a substance with intent. He is due to be sentenced at a later date.
Six of the co-defendants denied the charges against them, while five were not asked to enter pleas until a later hearing.
Five men stood in the dock, while eight – including the husband – appeared on video link from prison, where they were being held on remand.
The public gallery was full, with relatives of the alleged victim and family members of the defendants in attendance.
The men, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, are due to stand trial at the same court in September.
