The Essex home of Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, known as one of Britain’s first openly gay fathers and owner of Maldon & Tiptree FC, was searched by police as part of an investigation into alleged rape, human trafficking for sexual exploitation and administering a noxious substance.
Essex Police confirmed two men aged 57 and 32 were arrested following coordinated raids at properties in Danbury, Maldon and Braintree, with forensic officers seen examining the luxury Essex property.
Drewitt-Barlow, who is due to appear in an upcoming ITV documentary charting his efforts to transform Maldon & Tiptree FC, rose to prominence in the late 1990s after becoming one of the UK’s first gay men to have children through surrogacy.
Detectives said both suspects remain in custody while enquiries continue.
Barrie has 8 children he bought from surrogate mothers, including buying donor eggs for £50k from a model in Miami to avoid having an ‘ugly baby’.
Most recently he acquired triplets with his new 25-year-old male partner, who is the ex-boyfriend of his 20 year old daughter. https://t.co/MUfmY5wp3k pic.twitter.com/Yz5wEMNJHk
— Family Education Trust (@FamEdTrust) May 7, 2026
