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 choose to warn of the risks 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 needed parental rights over their little one.

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 choose stated it was within the public curiosity in naming Mr Albon.

In his judgement, Jonathan Furness KC stated he needed to guard girls from the potential penalties of unregulated sperm donorship and from utilizing Mr Albon.

The child 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 automotive. That is a declare rejected by the choose.

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 just a few weeks previous for a “one-off” picture.

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

Mr Albon needed the kid’s non-biological mom to be known as “auntie” slightly than mom, regardless of the very fact she had acted as a mother or father from start.

Each moms stated 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 revealed – stated 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 depart it as much as the mom as as to if there ought 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 help 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.

“Ladies and youngsters seem like nearly a commodity to him as he units about growing 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 choose on this case discovered “no constructive welfare profit in altering the kid’s identify” 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 grasp who it’s from.

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

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

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

The non-biological mom stated 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,” stated Decide Furness.

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

The choose stated he needed “to guard girls from the potential penalties of unregulated sperm donorship, typically, but additionally from Joe Donor himself”.

“He’s a person who intends to proceed donating sperm and weak girls who’re inquisitive about such companies ought to absolutely 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 by 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 by 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 needed to assist create life it was insulting when folks stated 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 underneath a latest change in court docket guidelines in England and Wales, reporters can attend and report sure data.

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 utility that this judgement ought to be revealed on-line and the daddy ought to be named.

It was argued that it will be important that the general public ought to concentrate on the risks of unofficial sperm donation. Each moms agreed to publication.

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

Clare Ettinghausen of the HFEA stated licensed clinics had 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, help and recommendation is offered by way of the BBC Motion Line.