Joanne Young due to give evidence at trial of four men accused of sexual assault

The trial of four men accused of sexual offences against Joanne Young has begun at Winchester Crown Court. Joanne Young, the ex-wife of former Conservative councillor Philip Young, has waived her right to anonymity. The defendants are Norman Maxone, Conor Sanderson-Doyle, Richard Wilkins and Mohammed Hassan. All four deny the charges.

Philip Young has already pleaded guilty to multiple offences against his former wife, including rape and administering a substance with intent. The prosecution alleges that he drugged Joanne Young and advertised her online to other men. BBC News reported that the alleged offences by the four defendants took place between 2016 and 2023.

Sarah Jones KC opened the case for the prosecution. BBC News reported that she told the jury they would have to contend with 'depressingly awful and sordid material' and would see videos they could not unsee. The prosecution said Philip Young advertised his wife on websites including Grindr and Craigslist as a willing participant in a marriage fetish, and invited men to have sex with her while he watched. The court heard she was drugged with sedatives, shackled and blindfolded, and was in no state to consent.

Sky News reported that the prosecution described the Young family as appearing normal to outsiders and said Joanne Young believed she was in a monogamous relationship. The prosecution said the men did not ask for consent because they did not want to hear the word no. The court was told that in one video Joanne Young could be heard snoring. Sky News also reported that one defendant gave a triumphant grin to Philip Young after raping her, and that Philip Young's offending unravelled after police intercepted a package of sedative drugs at an airport.

ITV reported that the jury would be shown graphic video evidence and that the trial is expected to last four weeks. Channel 5 said Philip Young had admitted 56 offences against his ex-wife. Channel 4 reported that Joanne Young chose to be named and seen, like Gisèle Pelicot, and that supporters came to court. It also reported that police found videos of the alleged assaults after being alerted to other extreme images Philip Young had put online.

On the second day, BBC News reported that the jury was shown a police interview with Joanne Young. She described an incident in February 2023 when she was restrained and blindfolded in the bedroom and felt someone else's hand touch her wrist. She said she was shocked and upset, and that Philip knew she would never accept or want that. She asked her husband whether it was the only time, and he said no, it was different people.

BBC News reported that the court then cleared the public gallery for a special session so the jury could view sexually explicit videos, with all but two reporters asked to leave. Joanne Young is due to give evidence later this afternoon.