A man from Compton Dundon, near Street, has been charged with sexual offences in a major abuse case involving former Conservative councillor Philip Young, who has admitted nearly 50 offences against his former wife.

Dean Hamilton, 47, appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, 26 January, charged with rape, assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault. He has not yet entered pleas.

Hamilton is one of five men charged alongside Philip Young, 49, of Enfield, who pleaded guilty to 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy his former spouse, Joanne Young, 48. Mrs Young waived her right to anonymity.

The court heard the offending took place over 14 years. Young also admitted 14 counts of voyeurism — including a single count covering at least 200 acts — seven counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, and one count of publishing obscene articles on at least 500 occasions, between 2010 and 2024.

Young, a Swindon Borough councillor for the Conservatives from 2007 to 2010, denied three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possession of prohibited images, and four counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Also appearing were Connor Sanderson‑Doyle, 31, of Swindon, who pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and assault by penetration; Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, who pleaded not guilty to rape and possessing an extreme pornographic image; Richard Wilkins, 61, of Toothill, Swindon, who pleaded not guilty to assault by penetration and rape; and Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon, who pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. Their cases are ongoing.

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