Former Tory councillor admits drugging and raping ex-wife 11 times

A former Tory councillor has pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his now ex-wife over more than a decade.

Philip Young, 49, admitted 48 offences relating to Joanne Young, who has waived her legal right to anonymity, between 2010 and 2024.

The charges include multiple counts of voyeurism, sexual assault, rape and administering a substance with intent to stupefy Ms Young, 48, "to enable himself or another to engage in sexual activity with her".

Ms Young, who divorced him after his arrest in 2024, sat in court on the opposite side of the dock dressed in a long-sleeved black top, supported by her sister and a witness support officer.

Four other men denied committing sexual offences against Ms Young, while a fifth is yet to enter pleas.

Young, who served as a Conservative Swindon borough councillor, in Wiltshire, between 2007 and 2010, stood in the dock wearing a grey sweater.

He confirmed his name and date of birth before entering his guilty pleas to the following charges, which took almost 30 minutes for the clerk to read out.

• 11 counts of rape
• Seven counts of sexual assault by penetration
• Four counts of sexual touching
• 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual activity
• 14 counts of voyeurism
• Publishing obscene articles

Some of the rape and other sexual offences were allegedly jointly committed with other men.

One of the voyeurism charges relates to at least 200 occasions between 2010 and 2024, while he admitted publishing non-consensual intimate photographs and videos of his ex-wife on no fewer than 500 occasions.

Young has denied eight other charges, including making indecent and prohibited images of children and possessing extreme pornography.

Police described Young as a British national who moved to Enfield, north London, from Swindon, Wiltshire. He has been remanded in custody at Bullingdon prison.

Young appeared in the dock alongside five other men, who are also accused of sexual offences against Ms Young.

Norman Macksoni, 47, from Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, appeared wearing a dark blue suit and pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and possession of extreme images.

Conner Sanderson Doyle, 31, from Swindon, who had his long hair tied back in a ponytail and was wearing a pale blue suit and dark shirt, denied charges of sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching.

Richard Wilkins, 61, from Swindon, wore a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, and denied one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration.

Mohammed Hassan, 37, from Swindon, stood in the dock dressed in a dark suit to plead not guilty to sexual touching.

Dean Hamilton, 47, of no fixed abode, appeared in court wearing a pale sweater over a light pink shirt with sunglasses hung in his collar.

He is yet to enter pleas to one count of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching.

'Incredible bravery'

Judge Angela Morris, the Recorder of Winchester, released all five of the other men ahead of a trial, which is expected to take up to six weeks, from 5 October.

James Foster, specialist Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor, said: "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."

Wiltshire Police Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith paid tribute to Joanne Young's "incredible bravery".

He said: "Today's hearing is a significant landmark, which has seen Philip Young admit to dozens of serious sexual offences against Joanne Young.

"I'd like to pay tribute to Jo for her incredible bravery throughout this process. She continues to be supported by specially trained officers."

After the hearing, Wiltshire Police issued an appeal to trace another suspect - a man described as being of a large build, with scarring to the back of his head, prominent lips and a hairy body.

He is balding with short or shaved hair, and has one distinctive tattoo on the left side of his chest, in images released by the force, which was taken around April to May 2022.

DS Smith said: "We appreciate the graphic nature of these images and that they may be triggering to some people, however we need the public's help to identify this man.

"It is unknown whether he lives in Swindon or from outside the county, which is why we request that this is shared as widely as possible to assist our bid to identify him."

(c) Sky News 2026: Former Tory councillor admits drugging and raping ex-wife 11 times