A former Conservative councillor has pleaded guilty to a series of serious sexual offences against his ex-wife, who waived her right to anonymity to see him brought to justice.
Philip Young, 49, admitted multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration, administering a substance with intent to stupefy, and voyeurism at Winchester Crown Court. The offences against Joanne Young, 48, took place between 2010 and 2023.
Young, formerly of Swindon and now of Amberley Road in Enfield, London, took 27 minutes to enter his guilty pleas. He served as a Conservative councillor for Covingham and Nythe on Swindon Borough Council between 2007 and 2010.
However, Young denied eight counts related to making and possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme images. He pleaded not guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children alleged in July 2024, one charge of possessing a prohibited image, and four charges of possessing extreme pornographic images between January 2019 and January 2024.
The couple divorced in 2024 following Young’s arrest that year. Mrs Young sat in court as her former husband entered his pleas before he was remanded into custody.
Four other men have also been charged with sexual offences against Mrs Young and appeared at the same court, where they entered not guilty pleas. Norman Macksoni, 47, of Wood End Close in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, denied one count of rape. Richard Wilkins, 61, of Toothill in Swindon, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one charge of assault by penetration.
Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Crofton Road, Swindon, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching, while Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Torun Way in Swindon, denied sexual touching.
Dean Hamilton, 47, of no fixed abode, is yet to enter a plea to one count of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of assault by penetration. A fifth man charged with rape, assault by penetration, and sexual assault will appear at court later.
Det Supt Geoff Smith from Wiltshire Police said the hearing marked an important step in the case. “Today’s hearing is a significant landmark, which has seen Philip Young admit to dozens of serious sexual offences against Joanne Young,” he said.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it had built a “thorough and compelling case” against Young. The four defendants who pleaded not guilty were released on conditional bail and are due to stand trial on 5 October.
Wiltshire Police have released images of a man they wish to identify in connection with the investigation. He is described as being of large build, hairy, with scarring on the back of his head and a distinctive tattoo on the left side of his chest.
