National

Saturday 14 February 2026

Man admits raping ex-wife of former Tory councillor at couple’s home

Hamilton is one of six men who have appeared in court charged with sexual offences against Joanne Young, including her husband, a former MP

A 47-year-old man has admitted raping the then wife of a former Conservative councillor at the couple’s Swindon home in 2015.

Dean Hamilton is one of six men, including the victim’s ex-husband, accused of committing more than 60 offences against Joanne Young, 48, who has waived her right to anonymity. At a hearing at Winchester crown court on Friday, Hamilton, of Compton Dundon in Somerset, also admitted two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration.

Judge Christopher Parker KC granted conditional bail and told Hamilton to expect a “very lengthy prison sentence in due course”.

Young is the ex-wife of Philip Young, 49, a sales consultant and former Swindon borough councillor who represented Covingham & Nythe from 2007 until in 2010. He previously served as a cabinet member for regeneration and oversaw an £800m redevelopment of the town centre. He now lives in Enfield, north London.

Last month, he admitted 48 offences against his ex-wife, including rape, sexual assault, voyeurism and administering a substance with intent to stupefy her.

He also admitted recording intimate images of her without consent for his own sexual gratification and publishing more than 500 photos and videos between 2010 and 2023. He pleaded not guilty to eight further charges: three counts of making indecent images of children, one of possession of prohibited images and four of possessing extreme pornographic images.

The couple divorced in 2024, the same year Young was arrested.

Four other men have appeared in court charged with sexual offences against his ex-wife and are due to stand trial in October. Police are looking for a seventh man in connection with the case. He is described as heavily built, with a scarred head and a tattoo on the left side of his chest.

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