Football club buyers charged with 18 more offences

Eighteen more charges, including multiple rape offences, have been brought against the buyers of a non-league football club.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and his husband Scott, 32, are accused of targeting and grooming young males across the country between 2013 and 2026.

Essex Police said Barrie Drewitt-Barlow had been charged with two offences of paying for sexual services of a child, among other alleged crimes.

The couple, who bought Maldon & Tiptree FC in 2025, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday and will return for a plea hearing in September.

They were remanded in custody and a provisional trial date was fixed for 18 January.

Police raided the football club and their home in Southwood Chase, Danbury, when they began their inquiries in May.

The new offences Barrie Drewitt-Barlow was charged with on Monday were:

• Two counts of sexual activity with a child
• Two offences of paying for sexual services of a child
• Five counts of rape
• Four counts of sexual assault
• Causing an individual to engage in sexual activity without consent
• Causing or inciting sexual activity

Scott Drewitt-Barlow was additionally charged with causing or inciting sexual activity and two counts of rape.

Property developer Barrie Drewitt-Barlow made headlines in 1999 when he and his partner at the time became known as Britain's first gay fathers, having become parents through a surrogate mother.

Police searched his pub in Braintree, The Swan, after they arrested him on 6 May.

They loaded a Rolls-Royce on to the back of a trailer and took it away from the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium in Maldon after searches there on the same day.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow has featured in reality TV shows including Rich House, Poor House and Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

In May, he was charged with:

• 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

Scott Drewitt-Barlow is also accused of:

• Sexual assault on a male
• Rape of a man aged 16 or over
• Two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation

The couple bought Maldon & Tiptree FC in 2025 and oversaw their promotion to tier seven of the English football pyramid.

Among the big names they brought in were ex-West Ham and Ipswich striker Freddie Sears and former Manchester City player Kevin Horlock as manager.

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