Britain’s ‘first gay dad’, 57 and his partner, 32, are charged with 18 more offences including paying for sexual services of a child and rape

A father of seven known as one of Britain’s ‘first gay fathers’ and his husband accused of sex and trafficking offenses have now been charged with sexual offenses against children.

Trailblazer Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and her second husband Scott Hutchinson, 32, pleaded not guilty last month to charges of rape, sexual assault and modern day slave trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Essex Police announced the couple had been charged with 18 additional offenses ahead of today’s hearing.

Drewitt-Barlow faces 15 new charges, including two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and two counts of paying for the sexual services of a child.

The others are five counts of rape, four of sexual assault, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and causing or encouraging sexual activity.

The new offenses involving Hutchinson include two counts of rape and one count of causing or inciting sexual activity.

They were not asked to enter a plea when they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC said they would face trial from January 18 next year and the estimated time would be between eight and ten weeks.

They were kept in custody until the second hearing on September 7, when they will be asked to defend themselves.

Drewitt-Barlow and Hutchinson previously appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on May 8, with defense lawyer Oliver Snodin saying they both ‘strongly denied’ the charges before them at the time.

They ‘targeted, befriended and groomed’ four teenagers before raping them, the court was told.

The case was adjourned for a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court this afternoon.

The couple’s home in Danbury, Essex, was raided by police early last month and officers are understood to have knocked down a wooden fence to gain entry.

Forensic units later searched the property as marked police vehicles were waiting in the driveway. Properties in nearby Braintree and Maldon were also checked.

Prosecutor Serena Berry told the previous hearing: ‘Barrie Drewitt-Barlow is in a relationship with Scott Drewitt-Barlow… they are what could be called celebrities who live multimillion (pound) lifestyles and have appeared in many documentaries and reality TV shows.

‘They own Maldon and Tiptree football club and have other businesses in the Essex area and abroad.

‘It is alleged that they both targeted young men, recruited them, befriended them and groomed them. ‘They invited them to their homes and other places.’

Drewitt-Barlow and her ex-husband Tony became known after they became one of the first gay couples in the UK to use a surrogate to have a child in 1999.

He bought non-league Maldon and Tiptree FC last year and was due to begin an ITV documentary last month explaining how he planned to turn around the club’s fortunes – but this has now been shelved.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow (pictured) and her ex-husband Tony made headlines in 1999 when they became one of the first same-sex couples in the UK to have a child via surrogate.

Essex Police raided properties linked to the pair on May 6.

In a statement at the time, police said: ‘Detectives have laid charges against two men in connection with an investigation into human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences.

‘Officers from Essex Police’s Serious Crime Directorate carried out coordinated searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon and Braintree on Wednesday and arrested two men. We have been in contact with the Crown Prosecution Service since then.

‘We can now confirm that Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, both from Danbury, have been charged with numerous offenses including rape, sexual assault and modern day slave trafficking for sexual exploitation.’

Trained social worker Drewitt-Barlow and dermatologist Tony, who live in the couple’s £6 million ten-bedroom matrimonial home in Florida and have no connection to the ongoing criminal case, had a total of five children through surrogates.

The first were twin sisters Saffron and Aspen, and the couple successfully lobbied to be recognized as same-sex parents on their birth certificates, becoming ‘parent one’ and ‘parent two’ instead of ‘mother’ and ‘father’.

The businessmen, who have a collective fortune estimated at between £40 million and £175 million after founding firms including a consumer cosmetics testing company, became civil partners in 2006 and married in 2014, but separated in 2019.

Drewitt-Barlow married her former personal assistant, Hutchinson, and they lived in Florida with Tony and their children for a time.

In 2020 and 2022, the newlyweds had a daughter and a son, respectively.

Drewitt-Barlow’s forays into television include having a stranger live in her home for reality series and shows such as Rich House, Poor House and Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

He has claimed in the past that he has been approached by footballers who are secretly gay, including three currently playing in the Premier League.

He said he was happy to help the BBC but did not want to be the “poster boy for gay football”.

‘I’ve already been classed as the poster child for gay parenting or surrogacy, and that doesn’t get anyone anywhere,’ he explained.

‘I don’t think people want this’ [come out] Because they are afraid of what might happen in the locker room and on the field.

‘I think the only people who can really help and make the situation more normal are the leagues and the FA.’

Sandy Wiezycki, 58, who lives in Florida and has known Drewitt-Barlow since 2012 when she started working for the couple’s consumer research firm in the US, told the Mail last month: ‘These allegations are hard to believe.

‘Barrie was always a lucky man and a great character… But he was devoted to his children and his work.

‘I haven’t seen Barrie lately because he travels a lot. I know he’s in England and I’m hoping it’s all a mistake… I’m shocked.’

Essex Police has appealed for anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact officers via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP).

They have also set up an incident room for international callers on 0800 051 4526 or 020 7126 7612.