A man on trial for rape has told Winchester Crown Court that he believed the alleged victim was 'participating' and 'fully engaged' during the sexual encounter. Norman Macksoni, 48, is one of four men accused of sexually abusing Joanne Young, who has waived her right to anonymity.
Philip Young, a former Conservative councillor and Ms. Young's husband, has pleaded guilty to 56 charges, including rape, drugging his wife, and voyeurism over a 13-year period at their home in Swindon, Wiltshire. He admitted to drugging his wife and advertising her for sex online.
Macksoni, who used the online alias 'Dark Stranger,' testified that he joined the website Fab Swingers, where he encountered numerous advertisements for cuckolding. He stated that Philip Young, using the username 'London Monkey,' contacted him and invited him to have sex with Ms. Young. Macksoni claimed that Ms. Young would be blindfolded as she did not wish to see her sexual partners.
According to Macksoni, when he arrived at the house, Philip Young led him to the bedroom where Ms. Young was seated on the bed, blindfolded and with her hands restrained. Macksoni recounted that Philip Young said, "He is here," before Macksoni engaged in sexual activity with Ms. Young. He asserted that Ms. Young "was participating in what was happening, the noises, the movement, then pulling me in with her legs" and that it was "full engagement in what was happening from her." He added that she did not appear drugged and that he would have stopped if she had not been participating.
Macksoni also stated that he believed Ms. Young had agreed to unprotected sex and that he was unaware at the time that Philip Young was the sole orchestrator, thinking it was a joint decision by the couple. He noted that Philip Young was behind him during the encounter, which he found "unnerving," and that he was unaware the incident was being filmed.
Other defendants in the trial include Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 32, and Richard Wilkins, 62, both from Swindon, who have denied charges of rape and sexual assault. Mohammed Hassan, 38, also from Swindon, has pleaded not guilty to sexual touching. A sixth defendant, Dean Hamilton, 47, has admitted to assault by penetration, sexual assault, and rape.
Philip Young's guilty plea includes 11 counts of rape, 11 of administering a substance with intent, 14 of voyeurism, seven of assault by penetration, and four of sexual assault. Sentencing for all defendants will occur after the conclusion of the trial.