Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, recognized as one of Britain’s first gay fathers, and his husband Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, face charges of rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation. The pair is scheduled to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
Police Raid and Investigation
Essex Police conducted coordinated searches on Wednesday at properties in Danbury, Maldon, and Braintree. Officers forced entry into the couple’s Danbury home by breaking through a wooden fence. Forensic teams examined the premises, with multiple police vehicles on site.
Background on Barrie Drewitt-Barlow
Drewitt-Barlow, a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, purchased non-league Maldon & Tiptree FC 14 months ago, becoming the UK’s first openly gay football club owner. An upcoming ITV documentary featuring his efforts to revitalize the club has been canceled.
In 1999, Drewitt-Barlow and his then-husband Tony made history as one of the first gay couples in the UK to welcome children via surrogacy. He has appeared on television programs including Rich House, Poor House and Below Deck Sailing Yacht, and recently hosted a stranger in his home for a reality series.
Drewitt-Barlow has claimed that secretly gay Premier League footballers approached him for support. He stated: “I’ve already been classed as the poster boy for gay parenting or surrogacy and it doesn’t get anybody anywhere.”
He added: “I don’t think people want to [come out] because they’re scared about what might happen in the dressing room, as well as on the pitch. I think the only people that can truly help and make it more normalised are the leagues and the FA.”
Essex Police Statement
Essex Police’s Serious Crime Directorate announced: “Detectives have secured charges against two men in connection with an investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences.”
“Officers carried out co-ordinated searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon, and Braintree on Wednesday and arrested two men. Since then we have been liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service.”
“We can now confirm that 57-year-old Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and 32-year-old Scott Drewitt-Barlow, both of Danbury, have both been charged with multiple offences including rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.”
The force urges anyone with information to contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal or by calling the incident room at 0800 051 4526 (UK) or 0207 126 7612 (international).
