Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow due in court on sex trafficking charges today – after raids at Maldon & Tiptree FC owners’ properties

Investigation - Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow are set to appear before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court. (Credit: Barrie Drewitt-Barlow/Facebook)

THE co-owners of Maldon & Tiptree Football Club will appear in court today (May 8) charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Essex Police has confirmed that 57 year-old Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and 32 year-old Scott Drewitt-Barlow, both of Southwood Chase, Danbury, are the suspects at the heart of a major police investigation.

It comes after officers from Essex Police’s Serious Crime Directorate raided premises in Danbury, Maldon, and Braintree on Wednesday (May 6).

Essex Police has been liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service, and both men will appear before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.

Forensic units were spotted at the Danbury home of multimillionaire Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, who rose to fame in 1999 as one half of “Britain's first gay dads”.

Officers reportedly "forced entry into the property by knocking through a wooden fence" on Wednesday.

Investigators were also spotted at the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium in Park Drive, Maldon, home to Maldon & Tiptree FC.

Searched - forensic units were reportedly spotted at the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium, pictured last December. (Credit: Ben Shahrabi)

Amid the ongoing police investigation, Maldon District Council relocated a polling station from the stadium to the Blackwater Leisure Centre in “a very late change”, ahead of yesterday’s county council elections.

Following their arrests, ITV pulled a fly-on-the-wall documentary about Maldon & Tiptree FC.

Up The Jammers was set to follow Mr Drewitt-Barlow, who completed a multi-million pound takeover of Maldon and Tiptree FC in February last year, throughout his first full season at the club.

After its purchase, the stadium previously known as the Wallace Binder Stadium was renamed the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium, after its new owners.

The Jammers, as the club is known by fans, were promoted to the seventh tier of English football last month after a successful 2025-26 season.

As the police investigation continues, Essex Police has also set up an incident room, which can be contacted on 0800 096 0095 or 0207 1580125 for international callers.

Anyone wishing to share information via the Major Incident Public Portal should visit mipp.police.uk/operation/4201020126R89-PO1

The case continues.