A judge has warned of the risks of unregulated sperm donation by citing a sperm donor who claims to have fathered over 180 children.
Robert Charles Albon, also known as Joe Donor, advertises online and says he has fathered children from Australia to China.
He took them to court because he wanted parental rights over their child, but using him as a donor ended up being a “horror story” for a couple.
Mr. Albon has been contacted by the BBC to provide an answer.Judge’s sperm donor warning over man who ‘fathered 180 children’
Joe Albon visited Wales in 2023 and posted this photo on Instagram: “Joe Donor in Wales… do you need help with a baby? Send a message”
A sperm donor who claims to have fathered more than 180 children has been used by a judge to warn of the dangers of unregulated sperm donation.
Robert Charles Albon, who calls himself Joe Donor, claims to have fathered children all over the world from China to Australia after advertising online.
But using him as a donor turned into a “horror story” for a couple after he took them to court as he wanted parental rights over their child.
The BBC has approached Mr Albon for a response.
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It is extremely rare for a parent in a family court case about children to be publicly identified but the family court judge said it was in the public interest in naming Mr Albon.
In his judgement, Jonathan Furness KC said he wanted to protect women from the possible consequences of unregulated sperm donorship and from using Mr Albon.
Although Mr. Albon claimed to have had covert sex with the biological mother in the back of a car, the baby in this case was conceived by syringe injection to a same-sex couple. The judge rejected that claim.
According to Cardiff Family Court, Mr. Albon, a man in his 50s, was a “stranger” to the child and had only spent ten minutes with them for a “one-off” picture when they were a few weeks old.
Mr. Albon petitioned the court to change the child’s name, be listed on the birth certificate, and assume parental responsibility.It is extremely rare for a parent in a family court case about children to be publicly identified but the family court judge said it was in the public interest in naming Mr Albon.
In his judgement, Jonathan Furness KC said he wanted to protect women from the possible consequences of unregulated sperm donorship and from using Mr Albon.
The baby in this case was conceived by syringe injection to a same-sex couple, although Mr Albon claimed to have had secret sex with the biological mother in the back of a car. That’s a claim rejected by the judge.
Cardiff Family Court heard that Mr Albon, who is in his 50s, was a “stranger” to the child and has only met them for 10 minutes when a few weeks old for a “one-off” photo.
Mr Albon applied to the court for parental responsibility, to be named on the birth certificate and changes to the child’s name.
