Reality TV star Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, who made history as one of Britain’s first gay dads, and his husband Scott Hutchinson have been charged with 18 further offences including rape and paying for the sexual services of a child, as they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court to face a growing list of serious allegations.
Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and Hutchinson, 32, were remanded in custody at today’s hearing without being asked to enter pleas. A further hearing has been scheduled for 7 September, at which they will be asked to do so. A trial has been set for January 2027, with an estimated length of eight to ten weeks, prosecutor Louise Oakley KC told the court.
Essex Police confirmed the 18 new charges come on top of offences the pair were already facing. Drewitt-Barlow has been additionally charged with 15 further offences including five counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of paying for sexual services of a child, one count of causing an individual to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of causing or inciting sexual activity. Hutchinson has been additionally charged with two counts of rape and one count of causing or inciting sexual activity.
The alleged offences, which relate to four different men, are said to have taken place in Essex and Manchester between April 2013 and January this year.
In a previous hearing, prosecutor Serena Berry described the couple as “what could be termed to be celebrities, who live multi-million pound lifestyles and have featured in many documentaries and reality TV shows,” adding that they own Maldon and Tiptree football club as well as businesses in Essex and abroad. She alleged that the pair had “targeted young males, recruited them, befriended them, groomed them, invited them to their home and other premises.” Defence barrister Oliver Snodin said the allegations are “strenuously denied” by both men.
Drewitt-Barlow purchased non-league Maldon and Tiptree FC in February 2022, and had been set to feature in an upcoming ITV documentary about the club called Up The Jammers. The series has since been pulled by the broadcaster. The Drewitt-Barlow Stadium was also raided by police following the couple’s arrest last month.
Drewitt-Barlow first came to public attention in 1999 when he and his then partner Tony made history as Britain’s first gay dads after having twins Saffron and Aspen via surrogate. The pair were permitted to be listed on the birth certificates as “parent one” and “parent two,” marking a landmark moment for LGBTQ rights in the UK. The twins were conceived using donor eggs and carried by a surrogate. Barrie and Tony split in 2019, after which Barrie entered a relationship with his daughter Saffron’s ex-partner, Scott Hutchinson.
Essex Police have set up an incident room in connection with the investigation. Anyone with information can call 0800 051 4526, or 0207 126 7612 for international callers, or contact officers via the Major Incident Public Portal.
