Husband Admits 56 Abuse Charges; Four Men on Trial

Philip Young has pleaded guilty to 56 charges connected to the abuse of his former wife, Joanne Young. The court heard that Mr. Young advertised his wife on the internet for sexual encounters with other men, a situation from which four other men are now on trial at Winchester Crown Court, accused of abusing her. Mrs. Young has waived her right to anonymity.

Allegations of Drugging and Restraint

Sarah Jones KC, prosecuting, informed Winchester Crown Court that Mrs. Young was allegedly drugged, shackled, and blindfolded by her husband. She described Mrs. Young's experience as a 'nightmare', recalling instances where she would wake up restrained and unaware of what had occurred. Mrs. Young, who stated she was 'emphatically monogamous' with 'vanilla' sexual tastes, told the court she would sometimes wake with blindfolds and handcuffs, with no recollection of abuse.

The prosecution stated that Mr. Young had advertised his wife on websites including Craigslist and Grindr. He reportedly sought strangers for sexual encounters with his wife, specifying any age or race, and seeking individuals as close to Swindon as possible. The court heard that photographs posted of Mrs. Young showed her 'inanimate and tied to the bed blindfolded'. Prosecutors suggested that a drink shared with her husband was used to incapacitate her, allowing others to act without her awareness or memory.

Defendants Deny Charges

The four men on trial are Norman Macksoni, 48, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, who denies one count of rape; Richard Wilkins, 62, of Toothill, Swindon, Wiltshire, who denies one count of rape and one of assault by penetration; Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, of Swindon, who denies sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching; and Mohammed Hassan, 38, of Swindon, who denies one count of sexual touching. A sixth defendant, Dean Hamilton, 47, of Street, Somerset, has admitted to one charge of assault by penetration, two of sexual assault, and one of rape. Mr. Young, 50, a former councillor, has pleaded guilty to a total of 56 charges. Sentencing for Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Young will occur after the conclusion of the trial. The four defendants currently on trial deny all allegations against them.

The trial continues at Winchester Crown Court.