A former councillor has admitted to drugging and sexually abusing his wife over a 13-year period, with a court hearing that he posted online adverts seeking men to sleep with her.
Philip Young, 50, pleaded guilty to 56 charges at Winchester Crown Court. The offences took place at the couple's home in Swindon, Wiltshire, and involved his wife, Joanne Young, who has waived her right to anonymity.
Adverts and Messages
The court was told that Young posted 20 adverts on Craigslist inviting men to engage in sexual activity with his wife. One advert read: "When my wife gets p*****, she gets randy and we have started running through some fantasies and one of the fantasies is having her tied to the bed."
The advert suggested the intention was to "quietly use her body" and that "even a voice would be a giveaway" to the individual's identity.
In a message directed at Mohammed Hassan, 38, from Swindon, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual touching of Mrs Young in February 2023, 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."
In a separate message following the alleged incident with Hassan, Young messaged 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."
Incident and Apology
The court heard that Mrs Young recalled feeling another man's hand while restrained and wearing a blindfold during the incident involving Hassan, before managing to escape to the en-suite bathroom.
Young also sent an apologetic message to his wife after confessing that he had brought another man into their bedroom without her awareness. He penned: "Would you rather tell your dad I'm not well and I will stay here out of the way? I don't know what to do with the hurt I have caused. 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."
Evidence and Other Defendants
Edward Culver, prosecuting, informed the court that examination of Young's devices revealed 300 emails exchanged between him and various individuals between 2015 and 2019, and he had also created 20 advertisements on Craigslist. The headings included "F*** my tied and blindfolded wife" and "F*** my wife." Young had also posted on platforms including Grindr and Fab swingers using the username London Monkey.
Mr Culver further stated that 480 photographs of Mrs Young "in a state of undress" were discovered, with the vast majority taken "not with knowledge or consent," though for a small number "it's unclear from the photos whether she knew or consented to them being taken."
Officers had visited Young's residence in 2015 following Border Force's interception of a pack of a class C controlled medication dispatched from India, which can be utilised as a sedative and is a recognised date rape drug. The jury heard that Young had also been prescribed a sedative medication for a sleeping problem.
The remaining three defendants in the trial, who face joint charges with Young, are Norman Macksoni, 48, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, who has denied one count of rape; Richard Wilkins, 62, of Toothill, Swindon, Wiltshire, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one of assault by penetration; and Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, of Swindon, who 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 of sexual assault and one of rape.
They will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial, which continues.
