Jury selection starts in trial of men - including one from Bedford - accused of sexual assault on drugged wife
Jury selection has started in the trial of four men accused of sexually assaulting the wife of a former Tory councillor who has admitted repeatedly drugging and raping her during a 13-year period.
Philip Young has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of abuse against his former spouse, Joanne Young, who has waived her right to anonymity.
A number of protesters stood outside Winchester Crown Court today (Monday) holding up banners in support of the rights of women victims of sexual crimes.
Preparations are now under way for the trial of four defendants who have been charged with sexual assaults on Mrs Young jointly with her husband, who has admitted his role in the offences.
They are:
Norman Macksoni, aged 48, of Wood End Close, Sharnbrook, who has denied one count of rape
Richard Wilkins, aged 62, of Toothill, Swindon, Wiltshire, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one of assault by penetration
Connor Sanderson-Doyle, aged 32, of Swindon, has denied sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching
Mohammed Hassan, aged 38, of Swindon, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual touching
Prosecutor Sarah Jones KC aims to open the case tomorrow (Tuesday).
Young has admitted 14 counts of voyeurism, 11 of rape, 11 of administering a substance with intent, seven of assault by penetration, four of sexual assault and one of publishing an obscene article.
Young, formerly of Swindon, published more than 500 intimate images and videos of his ex-wife and recorded her doing private acts for his own sexual gratification without her consent between 2010 and 2024.
The 50-year-old, who more recently lived in Enfield, north London, has also pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children and one of possessing prohibited images of children in July 2024, and four charges of possessing an extreme pornographic image between January 2019 and January 2024.
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.
Young and Hamilton will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks.