One of Britain’s ‘first gay dads,’ Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, has been charged alongside a second man following a police investigation into serious sexual offences and human trafficking. The charges come after officers carried out coordinated raids at multiple properties in Essex, including a home in Danbury.
Essex Police confirmed that two men, aged 57 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of rape, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, and administering a noxious substance. Searches were also conducted in nearby Maldon and Braintree as part of the wider investigation led by the force’s Serious Crime Directorate.
The Crown Prosecution Service later announced that the two men had been formally charged. Prosecutors said both of them are accused of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, in addition to multiple sexual offences, including rape. Authorities stressed that the proceedings are ongoing and that both defendants are entitled to a fair trial.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow rose to prominence in 1999 when he and his then-partner became one of the first same-sex couples in the UK to have children through surrogacy. More recently, he has been involved in television projects and football, having purchased non-league clubs Maldon and Tiptree FC.
The two men are due to appear before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
