In October 2026, jury proceedings commenced at Winchester Crown Court in the trial of four men accused of sexually assaulting a woman who was systematically drugged by her former husband over more than a decade.
The complainant, Joanne Young, 48, waived her statutory right to anonymity as the prosecution prepared to open its case against four co-defendants. Her former spouse, Philip Young, alongside a second man, Dean Hamilton, have already entered guilty pleas to multiple counts of rape and sexual violence.
Somerset County Gazette
Philip Young, 50, who served as a Conservative member of Swindon Borough Council between 2007 and 2010, pleaded guilty to an extensive series of offences committed between 2010 and 2024. His admissions include:
11 counts of rape
11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy
14 counts of voyeurism
Seven counts of assault by penetration
Four counts of sexual assault
One count of publishing an obscene article
Three counts of making indecent images of children
One count of possessing prohibited images of children
Four counts of possessing extreme pornographic images
The Crown outlined that Young drugged Mrs Young without her consent, invited other individuals to commit sexual offences against her while incapacitated, and covertly recorded and published upwards of 500 intimate images and videos online.
Dean Hamilton, 47, of Street, Somerset, entered guilty pleas in advance of the trial to one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration, and two counts of sexual assault against Mrs Young.
Four additional defendants pleaded not guilty to sexual offences and are currently standing trial before a jury:
Norman Macksoni, 48, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, charged with one count of rape and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image
Richard Wilkins, 62, of Toothill, Swindon, charged with one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration
Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, of Swindon, charged with assault by penetration and sexual touching
Mohammed Hassan, 38, of Swindon, charged with sexual touching
Prosecuting counsel Sarah Jones KC opened the trial before Winchester Crown Court, with proceedings scheduled to last up to four weeks.
The court confirmed that both Philip Young and Dean Hamilton have been remanded in custody and will be formally sentenced following the verdict in the trial of the four co-defendants.
Swindon Advertiser
Image – Wiltshire Police Court Photo
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