Full Breakdown
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and Scott Hutchinson Charged with Rape, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
5/8/2026, 11:41:56 AM
Arrests and Court Proceedings
On 6 May 2024 Essex Police raided the Danbury home of Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and his husband Scott Hutchinson, 32, forcing entry through a fence and also searching premises in Maldon and Braintree. Both were arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and modern-slavery trafficking and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 8 May.
Profile of the Accused
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, is a multimillionaire who bought non-league Maldon & Tiptree FC fourteen months ago, becoming the UK’s first openly gay football-club owner. He was to front ITV’s six-part series *Up The Jammers* about his club plans, now cancelled. He and his former partner Tony were among Britain’s first gay couples to have children via surrogacy in 1999. Scott Hutchinson, 32, formerly known as Scott Drewitt-Barlow, married Barrie after a relationship with the couple’s daughter Scarlett and was also slated for the series.
Charges and Potential Sentences
The Crown Prosecution Service lists three sexual-assault counts, four rape counts and two travel-facilitation counts for Barrie Drewitt-Barlow; Scott Hutchinson faces one sexual-assault count, one rape count and two travel-facilitation counts. Sentencing guidelines allow life imprisonment for trafficking involving kidnapping or false imprisonment, up to ten years otherwise; rape carries four-to-19 years; sexual assault up to seven years.
Official Responses
Essex Police said detectives secured charges for human-trafficking, rape and other sexual offences. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it has charged both men. Detective Inspector Lydia George, leading the inquiry, appealed for information via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP).
Conflicting Details
The police briefing referenced “multiple offences including rape, sexual assault and modern-slavery trafficking,” whereas the CPS filing enumerated distinct counts for each defendant. No information on alleged victims or the structure of the purported trafficking network has been disclosed, leaving significant factual gaps.
Verbatim Quotes
- “An Essex Police statement said today: "Detectives have secured charges against two men in connection with an investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences.” — Essex Police
- “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.” — Christian Meikle, CPS
- “Drewitt-Barlow said: 'I've already been classed as the poster boy for gay parenting or surrogacy and it doesn't get anybody anywhere.” — Barrie Drewitt-Barlow (BBC interview)
- “If anyone has any information they feel ready to share with us, I would ask them to contact us via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) and the investigation team will provide you with any specialist support required.” — Detective Inspector Lydia George
Impact and Future Steps
The arrests have led ITV to pull *Up The Jammers* from its schedule, removing the high-profile platform for Drewitt-Barlow’s club ambitions. Police investigations continue, with further property searches possible and court dates pending.
