United Kingdom

UK Man Admits 60 Counts of Drugging and Raping Wife

Is this one man's shameful crime, or proof of an organized abuse network far bigger than him?

7 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

UK Man Admits 60 Counts of Drugging and Raping Wife

Story

Above: A general view of Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, U.K., on Jan. 14, 2025. Image credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Sixty guilty pleas for drugging and raping a wife over two decades, and the tears in that courtroom belong to one person only. Sympathy for a man sobbing over crimes he chose to commit for 20 years is sympathy wasted. The shame sits with him, and the respect goes to a woman whose courage forced it into the open.

Women's Rights Network on X

Emily WD on X

Narrative B

Focusing on one man's tears misses how big this really is. Twelve more men stand accused of answering his invitation, another has already pleaded guilty, and similar cases have surfaced in France, Austria, Canada and the U.S. Treating this as a single monster's crime instead of an organized, widespread practice guarantees more women get hurt.

Diana Alastair on X