A former Conservative councillor is due before Swindon magistrates’ court on Tuesday, along with five other men, accused of drugging and sexually assaulting his ex-wife.
Philip Young, 49, has been charged with 56 offences allegedly committed against Joanne Young, 48, over a 13-year period between 2010 and 2023.
Ms Young has chosen to give up her legal right to remain anonymous and has asked to be publicly identified as the alleged victim.
.The charges against the ex-Tory councillor include 11 counts of rape, seven allegations of assault by penetration, and four instances of sexual touching.
Phillip Young, 49, is due before Swindon magistrates’ court on Tuesday
|He also faces 11 charges of administering a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower his ex-wife to enable sexual activity.
The Crown Prosecution Service said that Mr Young has been charged with possessing 230 indecent images of children, with 139 classified as Category A, the most serious classification.
Prosecutors allege he possessed three prohibited images and 82 extreme images covering four categories described as "rape, animals, death and gore".
Additionally, he faces 13 voyeurism charges relating to videos and voyeurism "on at least 200 other occasions".
The Crown Prosecution Service said that Mr Young has been charged with possessing 230 indecent images of children
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Mr Young is also accused of breaching the Obscene Publications Act 1959 on a minimum of 500 occasions.
Five other men face charges in connection with the alleged offences against Ms Young.
Norman Macksoni, 47, from Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire, is accused of one rape and possessing extreme images.
Dean Hamilton, 46, who has no fixed address, faces one count of rape, sexual assault by penetration, and two charges of sexual touching.
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Geoff Smith of Wiltshire Police described the case as 'a complex and extensive investigation'
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Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, from Crofton Road in Swindon, has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching.
Richard Wilkins, 61, of Tattershall, Toothill, Swindon, is accused of one rape and sexual touching.
Mohammed Hassan, 37, from Torun Way in Swindon, faces a single charge of sexual touching.
All five co-defendants are currently on bail ahead of their court appearance with Mr Young on Tuesday.
Mr Young served as cabinet member for regeneration at Swindon Borough Council from January 2007 to May 2010, during which time he oversaw the £800m redevelopment of the town centre.
James Foster, a specialist prosecutor at the CPS, said: "The CPS has authorised the prosecution of Philip Young, Norman Macksoni, Dean Hamilton, Connor Sanderson Doyle, Richard Wilkins and Mohammed Hassan with a number of offences - following a police investigation into alleged serious sexual offences against Joanne Young over a period of 13 years.
"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
"We have worked closely with Wiltshire Police as they carried out their investigation."
Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith of Wiltshire Police described the case as "a complex and extensive investigation".
He said: "The victim in this case, Joanne, has taken the decision to waive her automatic legal right to anonymity.
"She has been supported by specially trained officers from the beginning of the process."
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