Former Councillor Admits to Horrific 13-Year Campaign of Abuse Against Wife
A former Conservative councillor has pleaded guilty to a shocking series of sex offences against his ex-wife, admitting to drugging and repeatedly raping her over a harrowing 13-year period. Philip Young, 49, entered guilty pleas to 48 separate charges at Winchester Crown Court on January 22, revealing a pattern of abuse that included multiple perpetrators.
Detailed Charges and Court Proceedings
Young admitted to 11 counts of rape, seven charges of sexual assault, and four counts of sexual touching, all involving his former wife Joanne Young, 48. The court heard how he would drug his unsuspecting wife before carrying out assaults, sometimes acting alone and in other instances alongside other men. One particularly disturbing admission involved Young raping his wife with an unidentified man between April and May 2022, with police still attempting to trace this individual.
The former councillor also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of voyeurism, secretly recording his wife during private acts more than 200 times between January 2010 and July 2024 for his sexual gratification. Additionally, he admitted to publishing obscene material, including non-consensual intimate photographs and videos of Ms. Young, more than 500 times.
Other Defendants and Denied Charges
Young appeared alongside five other men accused of carrying out sexual offences against Ms. Young between 2010 and 2023. Norman Macksoni, 47, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and possession of extreme images. Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 31, denied sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching, while Richard Wilkins, 61, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual touching.
Mohammed Hassan, 37, entered a not guilty plea to a single charge of sexual touching. Dean Hamilton, 47, who faces one count of rape, sexual assault by penetration, and two counts of sexual touching, has yet to enter a plea. All six men stood in the dock for 27 minutes as charges were read by the court clerk.
Background and Professional Life
Young had served as a respected Conservative councillor in Wiltshire for several years, rising to become a cabinet member for culture, regeneration, and economic development. In 2010, the same year the abuse is believed to have begun, he announced he was stepping down to spend more time with his family. Six months earlier, he had described helping deliver the couple's third child at home minutes before paramedics arrived.
The disgraced business consultant has been involved in multiple consultancy businesses, describing himself online as an experienced business leader. He is listed as chief operating officer for a Salesforce consultancy firm based in London, having joined in June 2023 with 17 years of experience running his own partner consultancy. His professional background includes projects for household names including Aston Martin, Unilever, and BP.
Courtroom Scene and Legal Response
Ms. Young, who bravely waived her right to anonymity, was present in Court Two to witness the pleas, supported by her sister and a member of Witness Support. Young, dressed in a prison-issued grey tracksuit, lowered his eyes as his former wife of more than 20 years entered the courtroom.
James Foster, Specialist Prosecutor of the Crown Prosecution Service, stated after the hearing: "Philip Young has pleaded guilty to 48 serious sexual offences committed against his former wife, Joanne Young. We worked closely with Wiltshire Police to build a thorough and compelling case that resulted in him pleading guilty to dozens of offences today."
Young was remanded in custody to be sentenced at a later date, while the other defendants were released on conditional bail following a previous hearing at Swindon Magistrates' Court. The case continues to unfold as authorities pursue justice for the extensive abuse suffered by Ms. Young over more than a decade.
