A former Conservative councillor has admitted to drugging and raping his now ex-wife over a 13-year period.
Philip Young, from north London, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in front of his former spouse, Joanne, at Winchester Crown Court on Friday.
He took 27 minutes to enter guilty pleas to offences including rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration and voyeurism.
Young admitted 48 of the charges, pleading guilty to 14 counts of voyeurism, 11 of rape, seven of assault by penetration, four of sexual assault and one of publishing obscene articles.
The 49-year-old, formerly of Swindon, but now of Amberley Road, Enfield, also admitted multiple counts of administering a substance to his then-wife in a bid to incapacitate her.
All of the offences took place between 2010 and 2023. Young was a Conservative councillor on Swindon borough council from 2007 to 2010.
He denied eight charges, including three of making indecent images of children, alleged to have occurred in July 2024, possessing a prohibited image and four charges of possessing an extreme pornographic image between January 2019 and January 2024.
Ms Young, 48, previously waived her right to anonymity in connection with the case.
She sat in the court to listen to the guilty pleas, supported by family and a member of witness support.
Four other men also appeared in court on Friday, charged with sexual offences against Ms Young.
A fifth will appear at another date to face charges of rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault
Young, who is orginally from Enfield and attended the University of Westminster, was a Conservative councillor on Swindon borough council from 2007 to 2010.
He resigned as the cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development in May 2010 to devote more time to his family and business, the Swindon Advertiser reported.
“Trying to juggle all of that, family and work, I don’t think it is fair on my family to put them bottom of that priority list,” he told the local newspaper at the time.
