- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sat, 24 Jan 2026 02:49 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A former British politician has admitted to a prolonged campaign of sexual abuse against his ex-wife, pleading guilty in a UK court to drugging, raping, and secretly filming her over a 13-year period. Philip Young, a 49-year-old former Conservative Party local councillor, pleaded guilty on Friday at Winchester Crown Court to 48 of 56 charges brought against him, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The offences span from 2010 to 2023 and include 11 counts of rape, 14 counts of voyeurism, 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy, seven counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, and one count of publishing obscene articles.
Prosecutors said Young repeatedly drugged his then-wife, Joanne Young, before sexually assaulting her and recording the abuse without her consent. He also admitted to recording her during private acts on more than 200 occasions and publishing over 500 intimate images and videos.
Court Hears Of Hundreds Of Explicit Recordings
Young denied three charges of making indecent images of children and pleaded not guilty to charges relating to possession of prohibited and extreme pornographic material. He has also been charged separately with voyeurism and possession of indecent and extreme images, which remain before the court.
Police Praise Survivor’s Courage
Joanne Young waived her automatic legal right to anonymity and was present in court, supported by her sister and a witness support officer. After the hearing, Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith, the senior investigating officer for Wiltshire Police, praised her courage.
“I want to pay tribute to Jo for her incredible bravery throughout this process,” Smith said. “She continues to be supported by specially trained officers.”
Five other men, aged between 31 and 61, have also been charged with sexual offences against Joanne Young. Two, Norman Macksoni, 47, and Richard Wilkins, 61, pleaded not guilty to rape. Dean Hamilton, 47, faces charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration, while Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, and Mohammed Hassan, 37, have denied sexual offence charges.
Young served as a Conservative councillor between 2007 and 2010 and resigned from a cabinet councillor role in 2010, citing family and business reasons, according to The Sunday Guardian.
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