Britain's first gay surrogate parent charged with rape and human trafficking

One of Britain's first gay surrogate parents has been charged with rape and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, became Britain's first gay surrogate parent in 1999.

He and Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, the co-owner of Maldon and Tiptree Football Club, are charged with multiple offences.

The pair, from Danbury, Essex, will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Barrie Drewitt-Barlow 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.

Scott Drewitt-Barlow has been 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.

Essex Police said officers from the Serious Crime Directorate carried out searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon and Braintree on Wednesday and arrested two men.

The force said since then it has been liaising with the CPS.

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ITV has shelved a planned TV show about the men's move into football club ownership.

On Friday morning, an ITV spokesperson said: "ITV has decided to remove Up The Jammers from the upcoming schedule. It will no longer be shown on ITV4 or ITVX as previously advertised."

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