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(LifeSiteNews) — A wealthy homosexual couple, one of whom is known as Britain’s “first gay surrogate dad,” had their Danbury home raided by police and have been charged with rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced that Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, both of Danbury, Essex, England, have had multiple charges lodged against them related to the sexual exploitation of young males.
The two men were expected to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Christian Meikle of the Crown Prosecution Service said that “Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and Scott Drewitt-Barlow have each been charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, as well as other sexual offences including rape.”
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, who is reported to have obtained a total of eight children via surrogacy, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault on a male, four counts of rape of a man 16 or over, and two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
Much younger “husband” Scott Drewitt-Barlow is charged with one count of sexual assault on a male, one count of rape of a man 16 or over, and two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
The elder Drewitt-Barlow made headlines in 1999 when he and former “husband” Tony were recognized as the first homosexual couple in the UK to obtain children through a surrogate mother. They were also the first to have a child’s birth certificate read “Parent One” and “Parent Two” instead of “Mother” and “Father,” according to a 2021 report by The Sun.
According to The Times, Serena Berry, speaking for the prosecution, said, “Barrie Drewitt-Barlow is in a relationship with Scott Drewitt-Barlow … they are what could be termed to be celebrities, who live multi-million (pound) lifestyles and have featured in many documentaries and reality TV shows.
“They own the Maldon & Tiptree football club, and they have other businesses in the Essex area and also abroad in other countries,” she noted.
“It is alleged they have both targeted young males, they have recruited them, they have befriended them, they have groomed them. They have invited them to their home and other premises,” Berry said.