An investigation into a former Tory councillor accused of advertising for men to sexually abuse his wife began when police were alerted to extreme pornographic images, a court has heard. During that inquiry, officers came across intimate photographs of Philip Young's wife, Joanne, leading to a wider investigation.
Philip Young, 50, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of drugging and sexually abusing his wife over a 13-year period at their home in Swindon, Wiltshire. Four other men are on trial at Winchester Crown Court, accused of sexually abusing her.
Investigation Started with Extreme Images
Sarah Jones KC, prosecuting, told the jury that the investigation began when officers visited Young on July 4 2023 about an extreme pornographic image they had been alerted to. The trial heard that Wiltshire Police had been notified that the user of a Kik account linked to Young had uploaded three extreme beastiality images to the internet on June 10 2023.
Ms Jones explained that when Young gave access to his phone to check for the image, they found a number of other “intimate” images of his wife. She said: “In short, that led to identification of images that show intimate images of Joanne Young had been shared from the device, taken on the device and shared.”
Wider Investigation and Evidence
Ms Jones added: “The investigation was much wider and all Mr Young’s devices were seized and the investigation begun.”
The jury, made up of eight men and four women, was shown photographs and a walk-through video of the house, including the converted loft bedroom where some of the alleged abuse is said to have taken place. They have also seen redacted versions of videos of the alleged sexual abuse by three of the defendants and were provided with “neutral” written summaries of what was depicted in the footage.
The court was cleared for only the jury, defendants, barristers and Mrs Young in the public gallery to watch the videos, which have previously been shown to the jury in an unredacted form.
Defendants and Charges
The four defendants in the trial, charged jointly with Young, are Norman Macksoni, 48, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, who has denied one count of rape; Richard Wilkins, 62, of Toothill, Swindon, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one of assault by penetration; Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, of Swindon, who has denied sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching; and Mohammed Hassan, 38, of Swindon, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual touching.
Young has pleaded guilty to a total of 56 charges. A sixth defendant, Dean Hamilton, 47, of Street, Somerset, has admitted one charge of assault by penetration, two of sexual assault and one of rape. They will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial, which continues.
