A man on trial for sexual abuse has claimed he was a "pawn" in a "sick little game" orchestrated by the husband of the woman he is accused of assaulting. Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, denies sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching, telling Winchester Crown Court that he responded to an online advertisement placed by Philip Young on Craigslist in June 2016.
Philip Young has already pleaded guilty to nearly 50 sex offenses against his wife, Joanne Young, over a 13-year period. Sanderson-Doyle alleges that Young, whom he described as a "vile monster," used men as "pawns" in his scheme.
"You make me out as this horrible monster wanting to do horrible things, that is not the case," Sanderson-Doyle told the court. "Mr. Young was using pawns in his sick little game, he was doing it to his wife for 14 years, he did it to me."
Sanderson-Doyle stated he believed Ms. Young was consenting and that he stopped when he felt she was not happy. He added that he lost his job in quality assurance and faced significant stress due to the allegations, impacting his family.
"Never in my wildest dreams or nightmares would I imagine what I walked into," Sanderson-Doyle testified. "While I thought things were weird and strange and not what I am used to and outside my comfort zone, I took it as it was odd not that it was nefarious, not that as what Philip Young was actually doing."
Four other men are on trial, accused of sexual offenses against Ms. Young. Norman Macksoni, 48, denies rape. Richard Wilkins, 62, denies rape and assault by penetration. Mohammed Hassan, 38, denies sexual touching. Dean Hamilton, 47, has admitted to charges including assault by penetration, sexual assault, and rape.
Wilkins told the court he answered the Craigslist ad out of "curiosity," and that Young had described the encounters as a "fantasy thing that she would be asleep." Wilkins also stated that Young assured him his wife was looking forward to the encounter and that they were a "happily married couple and this was what they liked to do."
Sentencing for the defendants who have pleaded guilty will occur after the trial concludes. The trial is ongoing.