Football club owner, Britain's first 'gay surrogate parent', charged with child sex offences
Maldon and Tiptree owner Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, who made history as Britain's first gay surrogate parent, appeared alongside his husband Scott Drewitt-Barlow at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday facing a significantly expanded list of criminal allegations.Essex Police announced 18 additional charges against the pair, bringing accusations that now include rape, child sex offences, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.The 57-year-old and his 32-year-old partner, both residents of Danbury in Essex, were not asked to enter pleas during the hearing.Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC informed the court that proceedings are scheduled to commence on 18 January 2027, with an anticipated duration of eight to ten weeks.Both men were remanded in custody until a further hearing on 7 September, when they will be asked to enter pleas.Barrie Drewitt-Barlow rose to prominence in 1999 when he and his former partner Tony became among the first same-sex couples in Britain to have their names recorded on their children's birth certificates, following a surrogacy arrangement at a Californian clinic.The property developer has since appeared on various reality television programmes, including Rich House, Poor House and Below Deck Sailing Yacht.Prosecutor Serena Berry described the couple at an earlier magistrates' court hearing as "celebrities who live multi-million (pound) lifestyles and have featured in many documentaries and reality TV shows."The pair purchased non-league Maldon and Tiptree FC in 2025 and maintain additional business interests across Essex and internationally.The Football Association has suspended both men from all football-related activities while the police investigation continues.The expanded charges against Barrie Drewitt-Barlow comprise 15 additional alleged offences: two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of paying for sexual services of a child, five counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, causing an individual to engage in sexual activity without consent, and causing or inciting sexual activity.Scott Drewitt-Barlow faces two further rape charges and one count of causing or inciting sexual activity.These build upon the original allegations filed following the couple's arrest on 6 May during a raid at their Essex home, with charges brought two days later.Barrie Drewitt-Barlow had initially been accused of three counts of sexual assault on a male, four counts of rape of a man aged 16 or over, and two counts of arranging travel for exploitation purposes.His husband faced similar initial charges including one count each of sexual assault and rape.The prosecution alleges the couple systematically identified vulnerable young men for abuse. Berry told the magistrates' court: "It is alleged they have both targeted young males, they have recruited them, they have befriended them, they have groomed them. They have invited them to their home and other premises."The alleged offences span a period from 2013 to 2026.An ITV documentary titled Up The Jammers, which was set to chronicle their involvement with Maldon and Tiptree FC, has been scrapped.Detective Inspector Lydia George of Essex Police has urged anyone with relevant information to come forward through the Major Incident Public Portal, with assurances that specialist support will be available to those who contact the investigation team.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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