Football club owners charged with human trafficking

The defendants are due to appear again at Chelmsford Crown Court on 5 June.

The Crown Prosecution Service says Barrie Drewitt-Barlow has been charged with multiple counts including three counts of sexual assault on a male; four counts of rape of a man aged 16 or over; two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation; one count of sexual assault on a male; one count of rape of a man aged 16 or over; and two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2013 and 2026.

At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court the defendants spoke only to confirm their dates of birth and address, and they were remanded in custody.

Police also searched the couple's home and The Swan pub in Braintree, owned by Barrie Drewitt-Barlow.

A Rolls-Royce was loaded onto the back of a trailer and taken away from the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium in Maldon as part of the investigation.

Essex Police arrested Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his husband Scott as part of inquiries into alleged offences, and officers searched Maldon & Tiptree FC as part of the investigations.

In 2025, Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow finalised a deal to take over Maldon & Tiptree and oversaw their promotion to tier seven of the English football pyramid.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his partner at the time, Tony, became known as Britain's first gay fathers after becoming parents via a surrogate, a landmark noted in the article.

Drewitt-Barlow and Scott Drewitt-Barlow were charged with multiple offences including rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation and were due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.

A Rolls-Royce owned by Barrie Drewitt-Barlow was loaded onto a trailer and taken away for examination.

Forensic officers searched Maldon and Tiptree FC, the couple's home in Southwood Chase, Danbury, and The Swan pub in Braintree, as part of the inquiries.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his husband Scott Drewitt-Barlow were arrested by Essex Police as part of an inquiry into offences including rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow renamed the stadium after himself and claimed that average matchday attendance rose from 70 to 800 under his stewardship.

In 2025, Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow finalised a multi-million pound deal to take over Maldon and Tiptree FC and oversaw their promotion to step seven of the English football pyramid.