The WellNyss Tree

⚖️ A former councillor who admitted drugging and repeatedly raping his wife allegedly told another man that the possibility of her becoming pregnant was a “great thrill”, a jury has heard. Philip Young, 50, has pleaded guilty to 56 offences linked to a 13-year campaign of abuse against his former wife, Joanne Young, at their home in Swindon. Four other men are currently standing trial at Winchester Crown Court, accused of offences against Joanne. All deny the charges. The court heard Young placed 20 advertisements on Craigslist inviting men to have sex with his wife. Investigators also uncovered around 300 emails exchanged with other individuals between 2015 and 2019. In messages to defendant Mohammed Hassan, Young allegedly explained that he had undergone a vasectomy while Joanne was not using contraception, describing the risk of pregnancy as something exciting. Another advert allegedly outlined a fantasy involving Joanne being tied to a bed, with visitors instructed to remain quiet. Prosecutors say Young used the advertisements to recruit men to abuse her. Joanne has told police she never consented to sexual activity while asleep. In interviews played to the jury, she described an incident in February 2023 when she believed she was alone with her husband but discovered another man in the bedroom. Blindfolded and restrained, she felt an unfamiliar hand around her wrist. Realising someone else was present, she fled to the bathroom and locked herself inside until the man left. Young later apologised, claiming it had been a one-off incident. Joanne also recalled waking in fear on another occasion and saying no, something she had initially believed was a nightmare. Following the February 2023 incident, Young allegedly messaged Hassan apologising and saying Joanne had become upset and no longer wanted to participate. The jury also heard that Young apologised directly to his wife after admitting he had invited another man into their bedroom without her knowledge. Giving evidence on November 2, Connor Sanderson-Doyle said he believed Joanne had consented. He claimed he had responded to an online advert believing the arrangement was wanted by both husband and wife. He said finding Joanne blindfolded and restrained was consistent with what the advertisement had described. However, he admitted feeling uncomfortable when he noticed Young filming the encounter with a camcorder and kept his balaclava on. Sanderson-Doyle denies sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching relating to June 2016. The four men on trial are: • Norman Macksoni, 48, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire – denies one count of rape. • Richard Wilkins, 62, of Toothill, Swindon – denies rape and assault by penetration. • Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, of Swindon – denies sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching. • Mohammed Hassan, 38, of Swindon – denies one count of sexual touching relating to February 2023. Judge Mr Justice Saini reminded jurors that Young's guilty pleas were evidence of his own guilt and did not establish the guilt of the four men facing trial. A sixth defendant, Dean Hamilton, 47, of Street, Somerset, has also admitted rape, assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault. Young and Hamilton are due to be sentenced after the trial concludes. The trial continues.