Further sexual assault charge in wife abuse trial

A further charge of sexual assault has been made against one of four men on trial for the abuse of a woman who was advertised by her husband on the internet for sex.

Philip Young has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of drugging and sexually abusing his wife, Joanne Young, during a 13-year period at their home in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Four other men are on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of sexually abusing Joanne, who has waived her right to anonymity.

Mohammed Hassan, 38, from Swindon, has now pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of Joanne in February 2023 after previously denying one count of sexual touching on the same date.

Warning: This story contains distressing details

Prosecutor Sarah Jones KC previously told the trial that during the incident involving Hassan, Joanne, who was blindfolded and tied up, became aware of a second person in her bedroom when she believed she was having sex with her husband.

Jones said that Joanne had felt someone touch her arm to stop her removing the restraints she was wearing.

When she managed to take off the blindfold and restraints, she saw another man duck down at the end of the bed.

Giving evidence earlier in the trial, she said: "I was obviously really shocked because you don't expect someone else to be in your bedroom.

"Phil said to the person, 'Get down' and the person ducked at the end of the bed."

Hassan denies both charges of sexual assault.

The judge, Mr Justice Saini, told the jury not to be biased against the four defendants because Young had pleaded guilty to the "terrible acts" he had committed against his wife.

Young, 50, has pleaded guilty to a total of 56 charges including multiple counts of rape, making and possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme images.

Also on trial, Norman Macksoni, 48, has denied one count of rape and Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, has denied sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching.

Richard Wilkins, 62, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one of assault by penetration.

A sixth defendant, Dean Hamilton, 47, has admitted one charge of assault by penetration, two of sexual assault and one of rape.

The trial continues.

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