Four Men on Trial Over Alleged Sexual Abuse of Woman Advertised Online by Husband

Four men are on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of sexually assaulting a woman after her then-husband allegedly drugged her and advertised her on online platforms, including Craigslist, Grindr and swinging websites.

Norman Macksoni, 48, Richard Wilkins, 62, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, and Mohammed Hassan, 38, have pleaded not guilty to various sexual offences against Joanne Young. The allegations are being heard in court, and the four defendants deny the charges against them.

The trial began with prosecutor Sarah Jones KC telling the jury that the case concerned whether it could ever be reasonable to have sex with an unknown woman without first checking with her.

Joanne Young has waived her legal right to anonymity. She told police that, to her knowledge, she had enjoyed a relatively normal and monogamous sex life with her husband before the alleged abuse came to light.

The court heard that, on one occasion in 2023, Joanne woke up wearing restraints and a blindfold. She believed her husband was carrying out a sexual act on her, but prosecutors allege that another man had taken his place without her knowledge or consent.

The prosecutor told the jury that Joanne's husband had allegedly arranged encounters with strangers while presenting the activity as a shared sexual interest. However, the prosecution said there was no information from Joanne herself to support the claim that she had consented to these arrangements.

According to the prosecution, photographs posted online showed Joanne restrained and blindfolded on a bed. The court also heard allegations that alcohol shared by the couple was used to leave her unaware of, or unable to remember, what happened.

The prosecution said the incident in 2023 exposed a much wider pattern of alleged abuse within the relationship.

The four men face different charges relating to alleged incidents in 2016, 2017 and 2023.

Norman Macksoni, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, has denied one count of rape relating to 2017.

Richard Wilkins, of Toothill, Swindon, Wiltshire, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of assault by penetration relating to 2016.

Connor Sanderson-Doyle, of Swindon, denies charges of sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching, also relating to 2016.

Mohammed Hassan, of Swindon, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual touching relating to 2023.

The jury will consider the evidence presented during the proceedings before reaching its verdicts.

Joanne's former husband, Philip Young, 50, a former councillor, has admitted a series of sexual offences against her over a period of 13 years.

His admissions include 14 counts of voyeurism, 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of administering a substance with intent, seven counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault and one count of publishing an obscene article.

The court also heard that Young published more than 500 intimate images and videos of his former wife and recorded her performing private acts without her consent between 2010 and 2024.

Young, formerly of Swindon and now living in Enfield, London, also admitted three charges of making indecent images of children, one charge of possessing prohibited images of children and four charges involving extreme pornographic images.

A sixth defendant, Dean Hamilton, 47, of Street, Somerset, has admitted one count of assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault and one count of rape.

Philip Young and Dean Hamilton are due to be sentenced after the conclusion of the current trial.

The proceedings at Winchester Crown Court are expected to last up to four weeks. The jury will hear evidence concerning the allegations against the four men who deny the charges.

The case raises serious questions about consent, alleged drugging and the sharing of intimate images without permission. The court proceedings will determine the criminal responsibility of the defendants facing trial.