Ex-Tory councillor drugged wife for sex adverts, Winchester Crown Court told
Philip Young pleaded guilty to 56 charges of drugging and sexually abusing his wife over 13 years. Four other men face trial at Winchester Crown Court.
Former councillor told sex contact 'risk is a great thrill', court hears
A former Conservative councillor who placed online adverts inviting men to have sex with his wife told one of the respondents that "risk is a great thrill", Winchester Crown Court has heard, according to The Independent.
Philip Young, 50, of Swindon, Wiltshire, has pleaded guilty to 56 charges of drugging and sexually abusing his wife, Joanne Young, over a 13-year period at their home. Four other men are now on trial accused of sexually abusing her.
Mohammed Hassan, 38, also of Swindon, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual touching of Ms Young in February 2023. The court heard that Ms Young recalled feeling another man's hand while she was restrained and wearing a blindfold during an incident involving Hassan, and that she managed to flee to the en-suite bathroom.
Prosecutors told the jury that Young had placed 20 advertisements on Craigslist soliciting men to have sex with his wife. In a message sent to Hassan, Young wrote: "I had a vasectomy a while ago so she is completely unprotected. The thought of a slight risk is a great thrill for us. If anything did happen we know nothing about you so there would be no comeback."
After the alleged incident involving Hassan, Young sent a further message to him: "Hey mate, sorry about last night. It's the first time we did it and she freaked out a bit. She asked me to apologise and wants me to tell you that maybe this isn't for her."
The court was also told that Young sent a message to his wife after admitting he had brought another man into their bedroom without her knowledge. He wrote: "I am devastated at what I have done and I am heartbroken at what I did to you. I can't say sorry enough but I know it's inadequate."
Edward Culver, prosecuting, told the court that analysis of Young's devices revealed 300 emails exchanged with other individuals between 2015 and 2019. Young had also posted on Grindr and a site called Fab Swingers under the username London Monkey.
Culver further told the jury that 480 images of Ms Young in "a state of undress" were recovered, with the majority taken without her knowledge or consent. For a minority of the images, he said, "it's unclear from the photos whether she knew or consented to them being taken."
The court heard that police attended Young's home in 2015 after Border Force intercepted a package sent from India containing a class C controlled substance that can be used as a sedative and is a known date rape drug. Young was also separately prescribed a sedative for a sleeping disorder.
Three further defendants are standing trial alongside Hassan. Norman Macksoni, 48, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, has denied one count of rape. Richard Wilkins, 62, of Toothill, Swindon, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration. Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, of Swindon, has denied sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching.
A sixth defendant, Dean Hamilton, 47, of Street, Somerset, has admitted one charge of assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault and one count of rape. All defendants are to be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial.
Ms Young has waived her right to anonymity.
Source: The Independent