The businessman and his partner were charged with multiple sexual offences following raids in Essex.
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British businessman Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, known for being one of the “first gay parents” in the United Kingdom, and her husband Scott Hutchison were accused of rape, sexual assault and trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexualexploitation, as part of a lawsuit linked to slavery
.
Both must appear before the Chelmsford Magistrates Court, after the Essex Police moved forward with an investigation that included searches of different properties linked to the couple.
The main proceeding took place in the house they both share in Danbury, where police officers broke in after forcing entry by tearing down a wooden fence.
The homosexual couple.
An operation was deployed at the site with forensic units and several police vehicles, while inspection tasks were being carried out. Simultaneously, searches were also carried out on properties located in the nearby towns of Braintree
and Maldon.
According to an official statement from Essex Police, “detectives have brought charges against two men in connection with an investigation into human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences.”
The text adds: “Officers from the Essex Police Serious Crimes Directorate carried out coordinated searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon and Braintree on Wednesday and arrested two men. Since then, we have been in contact with the Crown Prosecutor's Office.”
The force also confirmed: “We can now confirm that Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, both from Danbury and two other men, have been charged with multiple crimes, including rape, sexual assault and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, within the framework of modern slavery.”
The homosexual couple.
The “first homosexual parents”
The case also acquires public relevance because of the businessman's profile. Drewitt-Barlow had made the news in 1999 with his then partner Tony, when they became one of the first homosexual couples in the United Kingdom
to have children through surrogacy.
In the sports field, the businessman acquired the amateur club Maldon and Tiptree FC 14 months ago, and he planned to star in an ITV documentary about his management and his plans to revive the institution. However, the series was canceled after the allegations became known
.
In parallel, Drewitt-Barlow had participated in different television programs, such as Rich House, Poor House and Below Deck Sailing Yacht, in addition to allowing a stranger to live in his house as part of a reality television program.
The investigation remains ongoing as the defendants face serious charges including sexual offences and human trafficking, in a case that already has an impact on both the judicial and media spheres in the United Kingdom.
