An ex-Tory councillor sought strangers online to have sex with his wife after he drugged her “into the state where anything could be done to her by whoever answered”, a court heard.

Philip Young, 50, formerly a Swindon borough councillor, has admitted repeatedly drugging and raping his former partner, Joanne Young, who has waived her legal right to anonymity.

At Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday morning, four men – Norman Macksoni, Richard Wilkins, Connor Sanderson-Doyle and Mohammed Hassan – went on trial accused of sexually assaulting Ms Young.

Sarah Jones , KC, prosecuting, told the jury that the case centred on whether it was “ever reasonable” to have sex or to begin to have sexual contact with an unknown woman without checking with her first.

Ms Young thought she had a normal sex life with her husband, Ms Jones KC said, but in reality her husband posted adverts on online swinging forums inviters strangers to “come and sleep with his wife at any age, any grace”.

Ms Jones KC said: “He presented it as…