A UK man is set to appear in court on Friday accused of drugging and raping his ex-wife over a period of 13 years, alongside five other men charged with sexual offences against her.
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Philip Young, 49, faces 56 counts, including rape and administering a substance with the intent to stupefy or overpower to enable sexual activity. Joanne Young, 48, his former wife, has waived her legal right to anonymity. Additional charges against Young include voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children, and possession of extreme pornographic material. Young, reportedly a former Conservative councillor, has not yet entered a plea and was remanded in custody in December 2025.
Breaking news: A man has been charged with drugging and raping his ex-wife, while five other men have been charged with sexual offences against her over 13 years
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— The i Paper (@theipaper) December 22, 2025
He will be joined at Winchester Crown Court by five other men, aged between 31 and 61, also accused of sexual offences against Joanne Young. Norman Macksoni, 47, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and possession of extreme images. Dean Hamilton, 47, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, sexual assault by penetration, and two counts of sexual touching. The remaining three men—Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 31; Richard Wilkins, 61; and Mohammed Hassan, 37—have yet to enter pleas, facing charges including rape, sexual assault, and sexual touching.
The alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2023. The case follows a “complex and extensive investigation” by Wiltshire Police, according to Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith, who praised the victim’s decision to waive her anonymity in order to raise awareness about sexual violence.
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The case bears a parallel to an unrelated 2024 trial in France, where a victim similarly waived anonymity to highlight the prevalence of sexual abuse. The upcoming court proceedings are expected to scrutinise the long-term abuse and involvement of multiple perpetrators in a single victim’s life over an extended period.