Ex-Tory councillor in court accused of drugging and raping his former wife

A former Tory councillor has appeared in court charged with drugging and raping his former wife over a period of 13 years.

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Philip Young, 49, and five other men have been accused of more than 60 rapes and sexual offences against Joanne Young, 48.

She can be named as the alleged victim because she has waived her right to anonymity, which would otherwise apply in such cases.

Young, described by police as white British, appeared at Swindon magistrates court yesterday charged with 56 offences, including multiple counts of rape and administering a substance with intent to stupefy his former spouse. He is also accused of voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme images.

He was remanded into custody and will appear at Swindon crown court on 23 January.

Young spoke to confirm his name and address during the brief hearing.

When asked if he wished to indicate a plea at this stage, he shook his head.

The prosecutor Keith Ballinger said Young faced "a number of allegations", some of which were indictable-only, and invited the case to be sent to the crown court.

Paul Dillon, defending Young, said: "In these circumstances, sir, there's nothing to add." Martin Clarke, the chair of the bench, told Young: "Your cases are indictable-only, so they can only be heard in the crown court. So we're sending all these matters to the crown court." Young, asked by Clarke if he understood, said: "I do." Young, formerly of Swindon in Wiltshire and now of Enfield in north London, was a Conservative councillor in Swindon from 2007 to 2010.

The five other men charged in the case appeared in the same court yesterday afternoon.

Norman Macksoni, 47, a black British national of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images, indicated a not guilty plea.