Former councillor admits drugging and raping ex-wife for more than 10 years
A former Tory councilor has admitted drugging and raping his ex-wife for more than a decade.
Philip Young, 49, pleaded guilty to 48 charges, including 11 counts of rape and administering a substance to intoxicate, against Joanne Young, who bravely waived her right to anonymity.
When he appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Friday in a gray sweatshirt, he clasped his hands and spoke clearly and calmly as the charges were laid against him. Ms Young appeared in court for the hearing.
Mr Young, of Enfield, north London, admitted drugging and raping his ex-wife 11 times.
He also pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual touching and voyeurism by recording Ms Young without her consent on at least 200 occasions between 2010 and 2024.
He also admitted to publishing a sexually explicit article, namely intimate photographs and videos of Ms. Young without her consent, on at least 500 occasions during the same period.
However, he denied three charges of possessing indecent images of children, one charge of possessing prohibited images of children and four charges of possessing extreme pornography.
Mr Young served as a Conservative Swindon borough councilor for Covingham and Nythe between 2007 and 2010. He was remanded in custody by Winchester Recorder Judge Angela Morris.
Five more men appeared in court accused of sexual offenses against Ms Young, 48. They were released on bail pending a new case management hearing on May 5.
- Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, denies one count of rape and possession of extreme images
- Dean Hamilton, 47, of Compton Dundon, Somerset, pleaded no contest to one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching.
- Conner Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Swindon, pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching
- Richard Wilkins, 61, of Swindon, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and assault by penetration.
- Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon, pleaded not guilty to sexual touching charge
A six-week trial is scheduled for October 6.
Police had previously appealed for help identifying another man linked to the incident. The man seen in the images taken in 2022 is of large build and has a distinctive tattoo on the left side of his chest.
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Geoff Smith said: “This is a significant investigation involving multiple suspects. We appreciate the graphic nature of this footage and may be triggering for some people, but we need the public’s help to identify this man.”
“It is unknown whether he lives in Swindon or is from outside the county, so we would request that this be shared as widely as possible to assist in our bid to identify him.”
Anyone who recognizes the man should call 101 and quote reference number 54240080286.
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