Another Pelicot in Manchester

Horrific. And these are the men that have been caught.

Heh! I've just started reading a novella which takes as its theme the Jorge Luis Borges story, The Library of Babel. I read that, but it must be fifty years ago now. But I'd see a MN library in much the same light!

Well I think for an actual human, or woman librarian this might be a task so fraught no one would take it on.

But maybe MNHQ, instead of the silly we need to write your post headlines for you, could at least do something with AI to produce an index.

But then it would to be trained in FWR language and euphemisms.

Maybe a sort of MN librarian.

What a terrifying thought.

Just came back to say I had forgotten this is a new thread rather than continuing the existing thread, when this story first came into the news.

In that it was mentioned that in fact one of the accused men did plead guilty from the start and there was mention that he wouldn't be sentenced until the court case was concluded.

This is a few months ago, and then recently it seemed that the UK press wasn't reporting this case, but later it was just said the start had been delayed presumably because at the last moment the husband pleased guilty.

We really need some sort of indexing system on FWR!

The court has heard the husband, who cannot be named to protect his wife's legal right to anonymity, has admitted abusing his wife since 2004.

He had already pleaded guilty to 15 offences against her going back to 2022, but admitted to a further 45 counts on Monday.

The judge explained to the Jury: the man who pleaded guilty was [the husband], so he will no longer be a defendant in this case.

Edited to add

I assumed this means that he will be sentenced when, if any of the other men are convicted.

I like the way the BBC has named all the other men, but on the other hand as the husband hasn't been named to allow the women to remain anonymous I hope this list of names doesn't impinge on her privacy.

If there was an explanation in the article I missed it @IwantToRetire . The judge told the court that the husband was not going to be in the trial, but didn’t actually say why. I assume as you shared the article you probably understood it better than I did!

Not wanting to sound to school teacher, but if you look there is a link to a news paper article!

All is explained there.

And better if you do want to then respond would be better to be based on the article - not my take on the article!

I think he doesn’t have a trial because he has pleaded guilty, so they can go straight to sentencing because no one has to ‘try’ the evidence.

@IwantToRetire Is that because he has admitted the charges while the other men are pleading not guilty?

And what does that mean? The husband will be tried separately? Or not at all?

What sort of steps would be unreasonable, in your opinion?

Husband who drugged and raped wife for 20 years no longer part of trial
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckq63vq3y4m1o

This.

For anyone new to Feminism, keeping males out of women's spaces is a priority. Imagine how many men who have weird kinks and worse pretend to be Trans just to access women's spaces.

Clue: It's a lot! In fact all men who have untoward intentions about women have gleefully jumped on this bandwagon.

Ensuring that men are not waved into single sex spaces is eminently reasonable.

Christ almighty.

All steps possible? We should take reasonable steps.

There’ll be hundreds of cases probably - Some people are just so sick! Defo a good argument for castration imo!

Another one!

this was earlier this year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4grr3368n3o

Yes, men are capable of fetishing anything, anyone, or any personal or physical quality.

Yet rapes and attacks on elderly women also happen.

A woman being wary when confronted with an unknown male is both instinctive, and sensible on that basis - a larger, stronger person represents a threat; and learned, because as we all know on some level, whether from experience, or awareness of data, it's men who commit virtually all sex crimes.

Yes. We should take all steps possible to ensure women are safe from opportunist predators.

Protecting single sex spaces is a very obvious measure.

Yes, at some level a woman is viewed as a potential object of sexual attention. Women who are older, or otherwise unattractive, are deemed pointless and irrelevent. Men may not hold this position consciously, yet it remains is hidden beneath the surface.

At a similar level of depth I think women have an instinct that is approaching fear when confronted with unknown males. There is an unconscious assessment of, and a realisation of, female vulnerability in relation to greater male strength and predatory behaviours.

It is all very primitive and animalistic stuff, but at root those instincts are still in there no matter the civilised gloss we put on the surface.

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that rape is not just a crime of power - but one of opportunity. And when given the opportunity to rape a woman and get away with it - far too many would take that chance. But it takes someone truly sick to arrange that opportunity - and to someone you're meant to love and protect. Vile.

It's everywhere. And once you see it, you cannot unsee it. I did online dating for a few years in my mid 40s. Met around 50 men over 3 or 4 years. Some just for a one off coffee, some I saw a couple of times, one or two I had relationships with. My God. It was horrific. So much misogyny. So many red flags. They didnt like it if you were too clever. Many trotted out the "crazy ex" scenario. Many of them showed deep rooted hatred of women, thinly veiled, but it always came out in the end. The usual tropes all came out. They often played the victim when you called them out. Often they tried to pass stuff off as banter when itbwas just pure nastiness or jealousy. Clearly, a lot of these men are well-versed in the art of gaslighting by time they reach mid 40s.

Oh, and I had become single after it became apparent how useless my partner was after we had a baby. When I eventually got around to changing my Facebook status to 'Single' I received messages that evening from eight men I knew, asking if I needed any 'company' / comforting / a shag. These were neighbours, ex colleagues etc. All married. Every single one.

Eight.

Speaks volumes.

Sadly, most women still think "Not my Nigel"

I see it in every man I meet. Varying degrees of either that cocky sense of self confidence - Oh to have the confidence of a mediocre man! - which then usually translates to controlling, or the bitterness of a failed or wronged man who can't wait to take it out on the next woman and make her pay.