Reality TV personality Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his husband Scott have been charged with multiple sexual offences, including rape and human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The couple, known for being among Britain's first gay fathers, were arrested following a police raid on their Essex home.
Essex Police confirmed that officers from their Serious Crime Directorate conducted searches at several properties belonging to the couple on May 6. The police statement said: 'We can now confirm that 57-year-old Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and 32-year-old Scott Drewitt-Barlow, both of Southwood Chase, Danbury, have both been charged with multiple offences including rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.'
Christian Meikle of the Crown Prosecution Service stated: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and Scott Drewitt-Barlow following a police investigation into alleged human trafficking for sexual exploitation and rape. Each has been charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, as well as other sexual offences, including rape.'
The pair are scheduled to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on May 8. Detective Inspector Lydia George, overseeing the investigation, urged anyone with information to contact police via the Major Incident Public Portal.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow rose to prominence in 1999 when he and his then-partner Tony became one of Britain's first gay couples to have children via surrogacy. He was set to appear in the ITV reality series 'Up The Jammers', which has been pulled from the schedule following the charges. An ITV spokesperson confirmed the show 'will no longer be shown on ITV4 or ITVX as previously advertised.'
