Judge warns over man who ‘fathered 180 children’

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 all around 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 wished parental rights over their youngster.

The BBC has approached Mr Albon for a response.

This can be very uncommon for a mother or father 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 wished to guard ladies from the potential 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 at the back of a automobile. That is a declare rejected by the decide.

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

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

Mr Albon wished the kid’s non-biological mom to be known as “auntie” moderately than mom, regardless of the very fact she had acted as a mother or father 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 nervousness, despair and suicidal ideas made worse by the case.

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

Decide Furness concluded: “They selected a sperm donor who marketed that he would depart it as much as the mom as as to whether there needs to 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 US 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 nearly 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 a number of the nations the place he has fathered kids.”

The decide on this case discovered “no constructive 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 electronic mail to be retained for when the kid is of an age to grasp who it’s from.

Mr Albon advertises on social media accounts like Fb and Instagram and donates via numerous 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 a number 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 susceptible ladies searching for to get pregnant ought to know that’s the case and so they threat the same ‘horror story’.”

The decide mentioned he wished “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 susceptible ladies who’re inquisitive about such companies ought to totally perceive the dangers of changing into concerned with him,” he added.

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

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

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

Household Court docket proceedings are personal though beneath a latest 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 appearing on behalf of the kid made an software that this judgement needs to be printed on-line and the daddy needs to be named.

It was argued that it will be significant 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 therapy 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”, proscribing 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 offered through the BBC Motion Line.