Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, one of the UK's first gay surrogate parents, has been charged with human trafficking and sexual exploitation, along with another man. The charges follow an investigation by Essex Police.
Background of the Case
Drewitt-Barlow rose to fame in 1999 when he welcomed a child with his ex-husband through a surrogate mother, becoming one of the first gay couples in the UK to do so. He is also the co-owner of Maldon and Tiptree Football Club, alongside Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32.
Both men face charges of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, as well as multiple sexual offences, including the rape of a man.
Police Investigation
Detectives were seen at the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium earlier this week, the home ground of Maldon and Tiptree FC in Essex. The mansion belonging to Barrie Drewitt-Barlow was also searched. Essex Police confirmed that their serious crime officers carried out coordinated searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon, and Braintree on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of two men.
The force stated that the two men have since been liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The Drewitt-Barlow Stadium was originally scheduled to serve as a polling station during the local election yesterday, but voting was relocated to the Blackwater Leisure Centre. Doug Wilkinson, Maldon District Council's deputy returning officer, explained that the decision was made 'in light of an ongoing police investigation.'
Impact on Television Show
ITV has now shelved a planned television show about the football club co-owners, titled Up The Jammers. The six-part series was intended to follow the pair as they attempted to take the Isthmian League North Division team 'to the grand heights of the English Football League within four years,' according to an earlier ITV press release.
In the release, Barrie Drewitt-Barlow had said: 'We didn't get into football to play it safe, we got into it to build something big, and ITV is the perfect platform to bring that story to life. Nothing has been hidden. The pressure, the decisions, the ambition, the ups and downs, it's all there. This is the reality of football ownership, unfiltered, and people are going to see exactly what it takes to try and take a club to the next level.'
An ITV spokesperson confirmed today that the network has decided to remove Up The Jammers from the upcoming schedule, and it will not air on ITV4 or ITVX.
Legal Proceedings
Both men, residents of Danbury, Essex, are scheduled to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court at a later date.
