A former Conservative councillor has admitted to nearly 50 offences involving the drugging, rape, and sexual assault of his former wife over a prolonged period.
Philip Young, 49, pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court to 48 sexual offences, including 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy his former spouse, Joanne Young, 48. Ms Young can be identified, having waived her right to anonymity. The offences occurred over a period of approximately 13 years.
The father of three admitted to repeatedly drugging his wife without her knowledge before carrying out the assaults. Some offences were committed by Young alone, while others involved additional men.
Young denied eight further charges, including three counts of making indecent images of children alleged to have occurred in July 2024, one count of possessing a prohibited image, and four counts of possessing extreme pornographic images between January 2019 and January 2024.
Ms Young attended the hearing and listened to the guilty pleas, supported by family members and a representative from witness support services.
Four other men appeared before the court in connection with alleged sexual offences against Ms Young. A fifth man is due to appear at a later date to face charges of rape, assault by penetration, and sexual assault. The co-defendants entered not guilty pleas to the charges against them: Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Swindon, denied sexual assault and assault by penetration; Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, denied rape and possession of an extreme pornographic image; Richard Wilkins, 61, of Toothill, Swindon, denied assault by penetration and rape; and Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon, denied sexual assault.
Young, originally from Enfield and a former student of the University of Westminster, served as a Conservative councillor on Swindon Borough Council from 2007 to 2010. He resigned in May 2010 from his role as cabinet member for culture, regeneration, and economic development, reportedly to devote more time to his family and business.
In a statement issued in December, Wiltshire Police Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith described the case against Young and his co-defendants as arising from a “complex and extensive investigation.”
