The home of reality TV star and Britain’s first openly gay football club owner Barrie Drewitt-Barlow has been raided by police as part of an investigation into alleged human trafficking for sexual exploitation and rape.
Officers are understood to have forced entry into the property yesterday morning by knocking through a wooden fence.
Multi-millionaire Drewitt-Barlow, who bought non-league Maldon and Tiptree FC last February and is one half of ‘Britain’s first gay dads’, lives in the plush Essex mansion with husband, Scott Hutchison.
Forensic units were scouring the modern home, along a country lane near the town of Danbury, with several police vehicles seen parked on the driveway.
Essex Police later confirmed that two men – aged 57 and 32 – were arrested on suspicion of rape, human trafficking for sexual exploitation and administering a noxious substance.
Officers also searched properties in nearby Braintree and Maldon.
Drewitt-Barlow is set to star in an ITV documentary being broadcast next week about his ownership of Maldon and Tiptree FC and how he plans to turn the club around.
A spokesman for Essex Police said last night: ‘Detectives leading an investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences have today, Wednesday, May 6 made two arrests and carried out a series of warrants.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, pictured with his partner Scott Hutchison, left, is Britain’s first openly gay football club owner and is set to star in an ITV documentary about his role at Maldon and Tiptree FC
Drewitt-Barlow and his ex-husband made headlines in 1999 when they became one of the first gay couples in the UK to have children through a surrogate mother
Two men have been arrested after the reality TV star’s Essex mansion was raided by police as part of an investigation into alleged human trafficking for sexual exploitation and rape
Officers are understood to have knocked through a wooden fence to get into the compound yesterday morning
‘Officers from the Serious Crime Directorate at Essex Police have today carried out coordinated searches of premises in Danbury, Maldon and Braintree as part of their investigation.
‘Searches remain ongoing at all of the locations.
‘Two men from Danbury have also been arrested. A 57-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of: rape, human trafficking for sexual exploitation and administering a noxious substance.
‘A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape, human trafficking for sexual exploitation and administering a noxious substance.
‘Both men remain in custody where they are being questioned by detectives.’
Detective Inspector Lydia George, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘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.’
Drewitt-Barlow and his ex-husband made headlines in 1999 when they became one of the first gay couples in the UK to have children through a surrogate mother.
More recently, the entrepreneur let a stranger live in his house for a reality series and has appeared on other shows such as Rich House, Poor House and Below Deck Sailing Yacht.
He is due to star in a Welcome to Wrexham-style documentary in which cameras have followed every step of his tumultuous first year as owner of the Maldon and Tiptree, who finished this season as champions of the Isthmian League North.
Six-part series Up The Jammers, to be shown on ITV4, follows Drewitt-Barlow and his husband as they attempt to take the team to the English Football League within four years.
Drewitt-Barlow made a fortune of at least £40million from his ventures including a trans-Atlantic surrogacy business – and lived in a £6million Essex home
Drewitt-Barlow and his ex-husband were together for 32 years. They became civil partners in 2006 then wed as soon as it became legal in the UK, in 2014
Police were also seen at the clubhouse of Drewitt-Barlow’s non-league side Maldon and Tiptree FC which he bought last February
The clubhouse and stadium were searched by officers in relation to the investigation
Police cars and a forensic van were seen in the club’s car park
In the past, Drewitt-Barlow has claimed to have been approached by footballers – three of which he says are currently playing in the Premier League – who are secretly gay.
He told the BBC that while he is happy to help, he did not want to become ‘the poster boy for gay footballing’.
Drewitt-Barlow said: ‘I’ve already been classed as the poster boy for gay parenting or surrogacy and it doesn’t get anybody anywhere.
‘I don’t think people want to [come out] because they’re scared about what might happen in the dressing room, as well as on the pitch.
‘I think the only people that can truly help and make it more normalised are the leagues and the FA.’
