Husband Accused of Drugging and Raping Ex-Wife Over 13 Years, 5 Others Facing Sexual Offense Charges By Becca Longmire 26

A man in England has been charged with committing multiple sexual offenses against his ex-wife for the course of 13 years.

On Monday, Dec. 22, the U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Wiltshire Police confirmed in a joint press release, that Philip Young, 49 — formerly from the town of Swindon but now living in Enfield in north London — has been charged with 56 sexual offenses.

These include “multiple counts of rape, administering a substance with intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual activity, voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme images.”

Some of the charges relate to his now ex-wife, Joanne Young, 48, who has “waived her legal right to anonymity ahead of court proceedings taking place and can be named,” the release stated.

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The CPS confirmed to PEOPLE that Philip appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Dec. 23. 

“No pleas were entered and he was remanded in custody. He is next due to appear at Swindon Crown Court for a hearing on 23 January,” a CPS spokesperson said.

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The charges that Philip is facing include 11 counts of rape, seven counts of sexual assault by penetration, four counts of sexual touching, 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual activity and 13 counts of voyeurism specific to videos, the CPS confirmed.

He’s also charged with voyeurism on at least 200 other occasions, as well as possession of Indecent Images of children. The CPS noted that 139 of those images were in Category A, which is the most serious classification for indecent images of children in the U.K.’s legal system.

Philip is also accused of being in possession of three prohibited images and 82 extreme images, according to the CPS press release. Regarding the latter, he faces one count each for four types — rape, animals, death and gore.

Philip Young served as a Conservative Swindon borough council member for Covingham and Nythe between 2007 and 2010, according to the BBC.

The five other men who have been charged with offenses against the victim are as follows: Norman Macksoni, 47, of Wood End Close, Sharnbrook; Dean Hamilton, 46, of no fixed abode; Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Crofton Road, Swindon; Richard Wilkins, 61, of Tattershall, Toothill, Swindon, and Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Torun Way, Swindon.

Macksoni has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images, while Hamilton has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching, the news release confirmed.

Sanderson Doyle has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching, Wilkins has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching, and Hassan has been charged with sexual touching.

All five men have been scheduled to appear at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

The alleged offenses took place between 2010 and 2023, according to the CPS and Wiltshire Police.

Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith of Wiltshire Police said a “complex and extensive investigation” is taking place.

“The victim in this case, Joanne, has taken the decision to waive her automatic legal right to anonymity,” Smith said, per the news release. “She has been supported by specially trained officers from the beginning of the process and she has made the decision following multiple discussions with officers and support services.”

The Wiltshire Police didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.