Rape accused 'told woman would pretend to be asleep'

BBC News (UK)State / PublicCenterNov 3

Richard Wilkins, 62, is standing trial alongside three other men accused of sexual offenses against Joanne Young, who was drugged and raped by her then-husband, Philip Young, over a period of more than 13 years in Swindon. Wilkins testified that he responded to a Craigslist advertisement in 2016 which he believed was placed by the couple, though it was later established that Philip Young posted it alone. During his testimony, Wilkins stated that Philip Young instructed him that his wife would pretend to be asleep and that he should simply enter, have sex, and leave. The court heard that Philip Young had placed approximately 20 similar advertisements on various platforms, including Grindr and Fab Swingers, often describing the victim’s body as available for anonymous use. All four defendants, including Wilkins, have pleaded not guilty to the charges, while Philip Young has already admitted to a series of sexual offenses against his ex-wife.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on criminal proceedings using neutral legal terminology and direct quotes from court testimony without employing loaded language or taking a partisan stance.

Daily MailIndependentCenterOct 30

Four men are standing trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of sexual offenses committed against Joanne Young between 2016 and 2023. Her husband, Philip Young, a former Conservative councillor, has already pleaded guilty to nearly 50 sex offenses against her over a 13-year period. Prosecutors stated that while the defendants did not administer drugs to Ms. Young, the effects were apparent to them during the encounters. One defendant, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, testified that he believed the acts were consensual roleplay and claimed he did not know the victim had been drugged by her husband. The crimes were discovered when police investigated Young for downloading extreme pornography and subsequently found intimate images of his wife on his devices.

Bias read (Center): Coverage focuses on criminal proceedings and witness testimony rather than partisan politics, despite the mention of the husband's past affiliation.