by Andrew Levy, Daily Mail
A father of seven who became known as one of Britain’s ‘first gay dads’ and his husband who are accused of sex and trafficking offences have now been charged with child sex offences.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57 and his second husband Scott Hutchinson, 32, indicated they were not guilty of charges of rape, sexual assault and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation last month.
Ahead of a further court appearance today, Essex Police revealed the couple had been charged with 18 additional offences.
Drewitt-Barlow faces 15 new charges, including two of sexual activity with a child and two of paying for sexual services of a child.
The others are five counts of rape, four of sexual assault, causing an individual to engage in sexual activity without consent and causing or inciting sexual activity.
The new offences involving Hutchinson are two counts of rape and one count of causing or inciting sexual activity.
They were not asked to enter pleas when they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today.
Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC said they face a trial from January 18 next year, with a time estimate of eight to ten weeks.
They were remanded in custody until a further hearing on September 7, when they are due to be asked for pleas.
Drewitt-Barlow and Hutchinson previously appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on May 8 when defence barrister Oliver Snodin said both ‘strenuously denied’ the charges before them at the time.
The court was told they had ‘targeted, befriended and groomed’ four young men before raping them.