Philip Young Admits Child Abuse Image Charges After Drugging, Raping Ex-Wife Over 13 Years

Philip Young, a former Tory councillor from Swindon, has entered guilty pleas to eight charges concerning child abuse images at Winchester Crown Court. This follows his prior admissions of drugging and raping his now ex-wife, Joanne Young, for 13 years, as well as other sexual offences.

Young's Admissions and Related Charges

Mr Young, 49, appearing via video link from prison, admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing prohibited images of children in July 2024. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing extreme pornographic images, spanning from January 2019 to January 2024. These recent pleas bring the total number of charges to which Mr Young has admitted to 56, obviating the need for a trial.

His previous admissions included 14 counts of voyeurism, 11 of rape, 11 of administering a substance with intent to stupefy, seven of assault by penetration, four of sexual assault, and one of publishing obscene articles.

Five Men Face Trial for Offences Against Joanne Young

Separately, five other men are scheduled to face trial on 5 October, charged with various sexual offences against Joanne Young, who has publicly waived her right to anonymity. Dean Hamilton, 47, has admitted one charge of assault by penetration, two of sexual assault, and one of rape. Norman Macksoni, 48, Richard Wilkins, 61, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 31, and Mohammed Hassan, 37, have all denied the charges against them and are awaiting trial.