Man on trial denies knowing woman was drugged before assault

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 17:16 · Archive

A man accused of raping a woman drugged by her husband told court he thought her snoring indicated she was awake and consenting.

Richard Wilkins, 62, is one of four men on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of sexually abusing Joanne Young, who has waived her right to anonymity. Joanne's husband, Philip Young, 50, has pleaded guilty to more than 50 charges relating to drugging and abusing her over a 13-year period at their home in Swindon, Wiltshire. He advertised her on swinger sites and brought men to their home to assault her.

Wilkins, a taxi driver, told the court he responded to an advert placed by Philip Young on Craigslist. When he arrived at the family home, he was taken to the bedroom where he found Joanne shackled to the bed and wearing a blindfold. He said he heard a 'snoring noise' but believed this was part of the role-playing scenario advertised by Young.

Wilkins told jurors: 'I considered this was still part of the role-playing scenario that I was acting out.' He suggested that if someone was asleep, climbing on the bed would wake them up. He said that as he began having sex with Joanne, she stopped snoring and made sounds of 'moaning or groaning of enjoyment' whilst wrapping her legs around him. Wilkins has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one of assault by penetration in July 2016.

How it is being reported

• Man accused of raping drugged woman ‘thought her snoring was part of role-play’Screen grab taken from bodyworn video showing the arrest of of Richard Wilkins from Toothill, Swindon (Picture: Wiltshire Police/Press Association) A man accused of raping a woman who had been drugged by her husband so he could watch her being ‘degraded’ has told a court he could hear her snoring…Metro · 4 Nov, 16:55
• Man accused of raping wife drugged by her husband tells court he thought her snoring was part of the 'role-playing'Philip Young has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of drugging and sexually abusing his wife, Joanne Young, during a 13-year period at their home in Swindon, Wiltshire.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 16:04

In this story: Richard Wilkins · Joanne Young · Philip Young · Winchester Crown Court · Swindon · Wiltshire

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log