Decide warns over man who ‘fathered 180 kids’

A sperm donor who claims to have fathered greater than 180 kids has been utilized by a decide to warn of the hazards of unregulated sperm donation.

Robert Charles Albon, who calls himself Joe Donor, claims to have fathered kids everywhere in the world from China to Australia after promoting on-line.

However utilizing him as a donor became a “horror story” for a pair after he took them to court docket as he needed parental rights over their youngster.

The RAYNAE has approached Mr Albon for a response.

This can be very uncommon for a dad or mum in a household court docket case about kids to be publicly recognized however the household court docket decide mentioned it was within the public curiosity in naming Mr Albon.

In his judgement, Jonathan Furness KC mentioned he needed to guard ladies from the attainable penalties of unregulated sperm donorship and from utilizing Mr Albon.

The infant on this case was conceived by syringe injection to a same-sex couple, though Mr Albon claimed to have had secret intercourse with the organic mom behind a automobile. That is a declare rejected by the decide.

Cardiff Household Courtroom heard that Mr Albon, who’s in his 50s, was a “stranger” to the kid and has solely met them for 10 minutes when a number of weeks previous for a “one-off” photograph.

Mr Albon utilized to the court docket for parental duty, to be named on the delivery certificates and adjustments to the kid’s title.

Mr Albon needed the kid’s non-biological mom to be known as “auntie” moderately than mom, regardless of the very fact she had acted as a dad or mum from delivery.

Each moms mentioned the stress from the authorized proceedings – which took greater than two years – had been cited as an element within the break down of their relationship.

The court docket heard the organic mom suffered from anxiousness, melancholy and suicidal ideas made worse by the case.

The judgement – made in 2023, however solely simply printed – mentioned Mr Albon claimed he needed to “defend the welfare” of the kid when he was truly “wholly self-centred”.

Decide Furness concluded: “They selected a sperm donor who marketed that he would go away it as much as the mom as as to whether there must be any contact.

“There was proof from his personal social media materials that Albon has indicated that to be the place.”

The court docket discovered Mr Albon, who’s initially from the USA however has been residing in north-east England, began the household proceedings to assist his immigration place to remain within the UK. That’s one thing he denies.

“In actuality he’s a person who seeks to manage,” added Decide Furness.

“Girls and kids seem like virtually a commodity to him as he units about rising the variety of his kids across the globe – China, USA, Argentina, Australia and UK to call simply among the international locations the place he has fathered kids.”

The decide on this case discovered “no optimistic welfare profit in altering the kid’s title” and that direct contact between him and the kid wouldn’t be within the kid’s finest pursuits.

Neither mom opposed “letterbox contact” so Mr Albon can ship an annual card or e-mail to be retained for when the kid is of an age to know who it’s from.

Mr Albon advertises on social media accounts like Fb and Instagram and donates by varied strategies together with synthetic insemination and extra pure strategies like sexual activity.

In an interview with The Solar final August, he mentioned: “I’ve had about 180 reside births and I’ve met about 60 of them.”

“I’d by no means see lots of them, this has to do with the kid’s moms relationship… it is my choice to have some form of relationship.”

The non-biological mom mentioned Mr Albon’s insistence of getting parental rights had been a “nightmare and a horror story”.

“She believes that the world must know of the dangers related to unregulated sperm donation,” mentioned Decide Furness.

“The general public and weak ladies in search of to get pregnant ought to know that’s the case they usually danger an analogous ‘horror story’.”

The decide mentioned he needed “to guard ladies from the potential penalties of unregulated sperm donorship, usually, but in addition from Joe Donor himself”.

“He’s a person who intends to proceed donating sperm and weak ladies who’re eager about such providers ought to totally perceive the dangers of turning into concerned with him,” he added.

The way in which he was giving sperm was unregulated because it was not by a licensed clinic, with no limits on the variety of kids, necessary well being checks or safety from authorized rights as a dad or mum.

UK laws say sperm from a single donor used by licensed clinics might solely be used to create a most of 10 households.

Mr Albon has beforehand spoken about his motive for donating. He claimed he needed to assist create life it was insulting when folks mentioned he solely did it for intercourse, didn’t make any cash and was typically fortunate to interrupt even on journey bills.

Household Courtroom proceedings are non-public though below a current change in court docket guidelines in England and Wales, reporters can attend and report sure info.

Measures have been taken to make sure the kid can’t be recognized.

Unusually on this case, the guardian performing on behalf of the kid made an software that this judgement must be printed on-line and the daddy must be named.

It was argued that it is crucial that the general public ought to pay attention to the hazards of unofficial sperm donation. Each moms agreed to publication.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) mentioned it was “all the time safer to have remedy with donor sperm” at clinics it licensed, “the place there are legal guidelines and steerage to guard and assist sufferers and donors”.

Clare Ettinghausen of the HFEA mentioned licensed clinics have been additionally anticipated to stick to the “10 household restrict”, limiting the variety of households that may be created with a single donor.

If you’re affected by any of the problems raised on this story, assist and recommendation is accessible through the RAYNAE Motion Line.