Swindon Sexual Assault Trial: Defendants Claim Ignorance of Victim’s Drugged State

Men accused of sexually assaulting Joanne Young, who was allegedly drugged by her then-husband Philip Young over several years, have described being invited to the couple’s home through online advertisements and swinging websites.

One defendant, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, of Swindon, told police he was a young man “trying out things” and had no knowledge that the woman was drugged. He is on trial at Winchester Crown Court, denying sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching in June 2016.

In police interviews read to the jury, Sanderson-Doyle explained he contacted Philip Young through Craigslist after seeing an advertisement in the adult section for a woman tied and blindfolded. He believed he was meeting a couple “trying to live out whatever their kink is.”

The defendant, then 21, described arriving at the Youngs’ house on his motorcycle, asking whether he should remove his shoes but keeping his balaclava on throughout the encounter. Noticing children’s toys in the home, he assumed the couple had children.

He stated he found Joanne Young “tied up and blindfolded” as depicted in the advertisement. While she remained silent, he claimed she appeared alert and awake.

Sanderson-Doyle told investigators he heard the woman say “No” at one point, but interpreted it as a request to change activities rather than a refusal. He described growing uneasy about her apparent discomfort and leaving shortly afterward.

“I thought I had her consent. I didn’t know she was drugged,” he told officers, characterizing the encounter as a “non-event” and describing himself as “just a young guy trying out things.”

A second defendant, Norman Macksoni, 48, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, denies one count of rape from February 2017. He explained to police that he used the username “dark stranger” on a swingers’ website where he connected with Philip Young.

Macksoni described the platform as facilitating couples exploring fantasies and noted a prominent “cuckold community.” He asserted he had never engaged in non-consensual sex and that Joanne Young seemed “totally coherent” during their encounter. He characterized the interaction as “just a sex meet and then I left.”

The defendant also informed officers that condoms were not used, stating: “He specifically said she didn’t like them.”

Joining them on trial are Richard Wilkins, 62, of Toothill, Wiltshire, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one of assault by penetration, and Mohammed Hassan, 38, of Swindon, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual touching.

Philip Young, 50, previously admitted guilt to multiple charges related to drugging and sexually abusing his former wife over several years at their Swindon home. Prosecutors allege he advertised his wife online and systematically arranged encounters with other men.

The trial is ongoing.

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