By Islam El-Sakka
A woman told a UK court she woke up blindfolded and restrained to find a stranger in her bedroom, allegedly invited by her then-husband, as a trial of four men accused of sexual assault began at Winchester Crown Court.
Testimony details alleged abuse
Joanne Young, 49, said she and Philip Young, 50, were married for 20 years and had three children. She described how her husband would restrain and blindfold her during sex, and she would wake up not remembering the restraints being applied, feeling "hazy".
Stranger discovered in bedroom
In February 2023, Young removed her blindfold and saw a stranger in the room. Philip Young told the man to "get down" and he ducked out of sight. Young hid in a bathroom; her husband later said he had invited someone to watch them have sex.
Husband admits sharing explicit images
On the day of his arrest, Philip Young admitted he had shared explicit images of her. He also acknowledged the February incident was not the only occurrence. Young recalled an earlier incident where she woke up terrified and her husband asked: "Wouldn't you like it if somebody else was here?"
Video evidence shown to jury
Jurors watched recorded video interviews of Young and videos allegedly recorded by Philip Young showing three of the defendants allegedly sexually assaulting her. The public gallery was cleared before the videos were played.
Defendants and charges
Four men are charged with sexually assaulting Joanne Young jointly with Philip Young. Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, denies sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching in June 2016. Richard Wilkins, 62, denies rape and assault by penetration in July 2016. Norman Macksoni, 48, denies rape in February 2017. Mohammed Hassan, 38, denies sexual touching in February 2023. Philip Young has pleaded guilty to multiple abuse charges and will be sentenced after the trial.
