Philip Young appears at Swindon magistrates court charged with 56 offences relating to 13-year period A former Tory councillor has appeared in court charged with drugging and raping his former wife over a period of 13 years. Philip Young, 49, and five other men have been accused of more than 60 rapes and sexual offences against Joanne Young, 48. She can be named as the alleged victim because she has waived her right to anonymity, which would otherwise apply in such cases. Norman Macksoni, 47, a black British national of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, who has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images. Dean Hamilton, 46, of no fixed abode, who is white British, has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching. Conner Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Swindon, described as white British, has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching. Richard Wilkins, 61, of Toothill, Swindon, who is white British, has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching. Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon, described by police as British Asian, has been charged with sexual touching. Continue reading...

Kent County Council was won by Reform at local elections in May, when their candidates promised to cut council spending and keep taxes low.