View Full Version : Baby-faced boy is father at 13
BOY dad Alfie Patten yesterday admitted he does not know how much nappies cost — but said: “I think it’s a lot.”
Baby-faced Alfie, who is 13 but looks more like eight, became a father four days ago when his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman gave birth to 7lb 3oz Maisie Roxanne.
He told how he and Chantelle, 15, decided against an abortion after discovering she was pregnant.
The shy lad, whose voice has not yet broken, said: “I thought it would be good to have a baby.
“I didn’t think about how we would afford it. I don’t really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10.”
Alfie, who is just 4ft tall, added: “When my mum found out, I thought I was going to get in trouble. We wanted to have the baby but were worried how people would react.
“I didn’t know what it would be like to be a dad. I will be good, though, and care for it.”
Alfie’s dad Dennis told how the lad does not really understand the enormity of his situation — but seemed desperate to be a devoted and responsible father.
He wanted to be the first to hold Maisie after the hospital birth. He tenderly kisses the baby and gives her a bottle.
And Dennis, 45, said: “He could have shrugged his shoulders and sat at home on his Playstation. But he has been at the hospital every day.”
Maisie was conceived after Chantelle and Alfie — just 12 at the time — had a single night of unprotected sex.
They found out about the baby when Chantelle was 12 weeks pregnant.
But they kept it a secret until six weeks later when Chantelle’s mum Penny, 38became suspicious about her weight gain and confronted her.
After that Alfie’s family told only those closest to them for fear he would be “demonised” at school.
Chantelle gave birth to Maisie on Monday night after a five-hour labour at Eastbourne Hospital, East Sussex.
Last night she told The Sun: “I’m tired after the birth. I was nervous after going into labour but otherwise I was quite excited.”
Chantelle told how she discovered she was expecting after going to her GP with “really bad” stomach pains. She said: “Me and Alfie went. The doctor asked me whether we had sex. I said yes and he said I should do a pregnancy test. He did the test and said I was pregnant. I started crying and didn’t know what to do.
“He said I should tell my mum but I was too scared.
“We didn’t think we would need help from our parents. You don’t really think about that when you find out you are pregnant. You just think your parents will kill you.”
But Penny figured out what was going on after buying Chantelle a T-shirt which revealed her swelling tum.
Chantelle admitted she and Alfie — who are both being supported by their parents — would be accused of being grossly irresponsible. She said: “We know we made a mistake but I wouldn’t change it now. We will be good loving parents.
“I have started a church course and I am going to do work experience helping other young mums.
“I’ll be a great mum and Alfie will be a great dad.”
Chantelle and Maisie were released from hospital yesterday. They are living with Penny, Chantelle’s jobless dad Steve, 43, and her five brothers in a rented council house in Eastbourne. The family live on benefits. Alfie, who lives on an estate across town with mum Nicola, 43, spends most of his time at the Steadmans’ house.
He is allowed to stay overnight and even has a school uniform there so he can go straight to his classes in the morning.
Alfie’s dad, who is separated from Nicola, believes the lad is scared deep down.
He said: “Everyone is telling him things and it’s going round in his head. It hasn’t really dawned on him. He hasn’t got a clue of what the baby means and can’t explain how he feels. All he knows is mum and dad will help.
“When you mention money his eyes look away. And she is reliant on her mum and dad. It’s crazy. They have no idea what lies ahead.”
Dennis, who works for a vehicle recovery firm, described Alfie as “a typical 13-year-old boy”.
He said: “He loves computer games, boxing and Manchester United.” Dennis, who has fathered nine kids, told how he was “gobsmacked” when he discovered Alfie was to be a dad, too.
He said: “When I spoke to him he started crying. He said it was the first time he’d had sex, that he didn’t know what he was doing and of the complications that could come.
“I will talk to him again and it will be the birds and the bees talk. Some may say it’s too late but he needs to understand so there is not another baby.”
Chantelle’s mum said: “I told her it was lovely to have the baby but I wish it was in different circumstances. We have five children already so it’s a big financial responsibility. But we are a family and will pull together and get through.
“She’s my daughter. I love her and she will want for nothing.”
Last night Michaela Aston, of the anti-abortion Christian charity LIFE, said: “We commend these teenagers for their courage in bringing their child into the world.
“At the same time this is symptomatic of the over-sexualisation of our youngsters and shows the policy of value-free sex education just isn’t working.”
Britain’s youngest known father is Sean Stewart. He became a dad at 12 when the girl next door, 15-year-old Emma Webster, gave birth in Sharnbrook, Bedford, in 1998. They split six months later.
SBBB - Next Clue - Bargain for the big day! Lucky woman!
thats shocking, its like something out of one of the soaps
I have my doubts about this story. I wouldnt be at all surprised that its a story invented by a bunch of publicity seeking chavs.
I have my doubts about this story. I wouldnt be at all surprised that its a story invented by a bunch of publicity seeking chavs.
i would believe this story... the hospital I had my children in there was a high level of very young girls having babies, with equally young partners.. One of the fathers was not allowing in the labour ward as he was too young..(you have to be over 15)
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2233878.ece
:sick:
di marco
13-02-2009, 15:25
omg theres no way that kid is 13 surely?!
omg theres no way that kid is 13 surely?!
:eek::eek: he looks 9 and she look 16 +
My brothers 12 but he is smaller than my 9 year old sister lol so that guy could be 13
They both look so young!!! But the boy looks 8/9 to me! :eek:
Hollie-x
13-02-2009, 17:14
I saw this on the tv this morning, I was sooo shocked when they said he was 13, he looks about 8! I think it's a bit weird tbh that a 15 year old girl was sleeping with a 13 year old, that's like me last year with someone in my sisters class. I just find it a bit strange, i mean i know some couples when they are older the woman is older than the man but when they're this young..
it's disgusting, the boy looks so young, that girl might aswell be a pedophile, i dont care how controversial that sounds, he might be 13 but he doesn't look it at all, how she can find him sexually attractive is actually sick, she must be ill in the head!
kids having kids what the hell is this world coming to!? I'm sorry but it's digusting. end of.
Chloe O'brien
13-02-2009, 22:58
If anyone is too blame its the parents of these two kids. They should never have allowed the boy to stay over at his girlfriends house, don't they know anything about teenage hormones. I would be mortified if it was my child I really would.
And I thought I looked young for my age :lol:They look more like brother and sister.
Kirsty :]
14-02-2009, 00:33
We were reading this in the paper in school today. I couldn't even read it... it made me feel physically sick... how on earth did they even knwo what they were doing?! and looking that young... how did he even manage it!? And why didn't their parents teach them about contraception... and maybe the school for that matter! Jeeeez when I was that age I was more concerned with getting muddy in the brook than boys!!
Chloe O'brien
14-02-2009, 00:41
They would have been taught sex education at school so they would know how babies are made. Marley is 10 and she has just finished being taught sex education at school. At primary they are taught the basics. Starting from skin cells and DNA then moving on to how boys and girls bodies develope then conception and birth. I don't blame the school as what they have been taugth at school would have fallen into the national guidelines. its the parents that have to be held accountable nevermind trying to pass the buck onto other authorities.
its definitly the parents agree, if they hadnt allowed them to stop over at each others house then it wouldnt have happened. They are far too young
He looks like the girls brother, not father
We were talking about it yesterday and my mate was saying how the papers were saying that they looked so a like and ric said of course they do the boy hasnt even hit puberty yet, and its true.
DaVeyWaVey
14-02-2009, 11:14
It is shocking. He doesn't even look like he could manage to produce a baby as he looks so young. They looked like brother and sister when I seen the picture of him and his child in the paper.
I agree that the parents are partly responsible for this happening, as they should have taken more control but the sex education in schools is so poor. I remember the sex education I had at 11/12 was very poor. Not only should parents take responsibility, but schools should improve the quality of their sex education.
di marco
14-02-2009, 17:56
yeh the sex education i had at school was pretty poor too. although it is primarily the parents responsibility to teach their children and not allow them to stay over their girlfriends house etc. i cant believe though that he was 12 when they had sex, i certainly wasnt thinking about that when i was 12 and probably wouldnt have had any idea what to do either! i dont think i know anyone who was having sex at 12!
parkerman
14-02-2009, 18:47
ric said of course they do the boy hasnt even hit puberty yet, and its true.
Well, he must have hit puberty or it wouldn't have happened!
Sex ed wasn't good at my school either. It was basically the teacher talking about periods and when it got to the pregnancy parts they put videos on.
di marco
14-02-2009, 19:04
Sex ed wasn't good at my school either. It was basically the teacher talking about periods and when it got to the pregnancy parts they put videos on.
same, we watched the same videos in year 6 and year 7 so quite evidently i didnt learn anything new the second time, and in year 10 we didnt really learn anything we didnt already know either!
di marco
14-02-2009, 19:28
A boy who became a father aged 13 has provoked a fierce political debate over the high rate of teenage pregnancies in the UK.
The case of baby-faced Alfie Patten - who was aged just 12 when the baby was conceived - exemplified the "complete collapse" of parts of society, it has been claimed.
Conservative leader David Cameron said it showed a worrying trend of "children having children" that had to be stopped, while Children's Secretary Ed Balls said it was "an awful case".
The furore was sparked after Alfie and 15-year-old Chantelle Steadman brought Maisie Roxanne into the world at the Eastbourne District General Hospital, East Sussex.
The UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe, but figures show the number of conceptions among under-16s fell by 1,000 in 2006 to 7,826, compared to ten years earlier.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who runs the Centre for Social Justice think tank, said the birth highlighted another case of "broken Britain" where "anything goes".
He said: "It's not being accusative, it's about pointing out the complete collapse in some parts of society of any sense of what's right and wrong.
"There is no opprobrium any more about behaviour and quite often children witness behaviour that's aggressive, violent, rude and sexual. It's as if no-one is saying this is wrong."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown did not comment directly on the case but said "all of us would want to avoid teenage pregnancies".
Mr Cameron said: "It is really worrying that in our country today you've got children having children.
"Obviously we all hope that these very, very young children will grow up and be good parents, but frankly parenthood isn't something that they should have been thinking about. That's what's gone wrong and we've got to put it right."
Mr Balls said: "It's just an awful case. It's unusual, it's very rare, but you look at that young lad being a dad when he is so young - and also the teenage girl - and you think it's not right, this looks so terrible. It has got to be sorted out.
"I want those kids to be safe and also the young child as well, and I want us to do everything we can as a society to make sure we keep teenage pregnancies coming down."
"I think like most parents, like most people, I saw that photo today and I was appalled. It's just not right."
Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson said the birth raised "huge" questions about sex education and the sexualisation of British society.
East Sussex County Council said the teenage parents would be supported with intensive monitoring and health visitor support.
Chris_2k11
14-02-2009, 19:31
I cant believe how young the boy looks, im actually gobsmacked!
Chloe O'brien
14-02-2009, 23:59
Up here in Scotland kids get taught sex education in primary schools P6 up here yr 6 south of the border. Marley has just finished her learning on the subject but because of the national guidelines they have to stick to the basic biology of how the body works, puberty and peg A goes into hole B scenerio. It does not cover same sex relationships, condoms or transmitted sexual diseases, they don't get taught that until high school. Chances are these kids new about sex education before the subject was taught at school. The PC brigade can try and point the blame at the education or the Government all they like but It's the parents to blame full stop. They are responisble for bringing them into the world and teaching them right from wrong. It was them that let sleep in the same room andin the same bed when they were aware that the teenagers were dating. But it is down to hardworking tax payers who are going to support both kids and baby for the next sixteen years.
I cant really remember my Sex Ed, I have an awful memory and can hardly remember anything from primary school like that
I think it was ok though like I understood very clearly, I remember this one time in year 3 my teacher asked if I was ok cos I had gone white as a ghost, I went very ill and was sick later on
Chloe O'brien
15-02-2009, 01:15
A SECOND teenage boy last night claimed HE—and NOT 13-year-old Alfie Patten—is the REAL dad of 15-year-old Chantelle Steadman’s newborn baby Maisie.
Richard Goodsell, aged 16, insisted he often shared a bed with Chantelle over a period of THREE MONTHS around the time she fell pregnant—and sensationally demanded a DNA test to PROVE he’s the daddy.
Young mum Chantelle and baby-faced 13-year-old Alfie Patten made headlines around the world this week when they told their story, vowing to be good parents to their six-day-old daughter.
But the News of the World can today reveal that as well as second maybe-dad Richard a THIRD lad, 14-year-old Tyler Barker, fears he may have fathered little Maisie.
And amazingly the News Of The World has uncovered claims that Chantelle was sleeping with as many as EIGHT teenage boys around the time the baby was conceived on the Old Town estate in Eastbourne, Sussex.
Richard, a trainee chef, said he had sex at least three times with Chantelle at her home, adding: “I KNOW I could be the father. Everyone thinks I am. My friends all tell me that baby has my eyes— even my mum thinks so.
“Only a DNA test is going to sort this out properly. If I am the father, I have the right to know.”
Hope
And anxious schoolboy Tyler admitted: “I slept with Chantelle in her bed about nine months ago and I’m really worried I could be the father.
“I hope it’s NOT me. All my mates have been teasing me about it but this isn’t funny, it’s serious.”
Both boys and their parents have made sworn statements in front of a solicitor detailing their nights of sex with Chantelle.
But Chantelle’s family insist she lost her virginity to Alfie and 7lb 3oz Maisie—born after a five-hour labour at Eastbourne Hospital—is his.
Four-foot Alfie says the baby was conceived when he was just 12 after a single night of unprotected sex. Chantelle claimed she was on the Pill but forgot to take it.
However, Richard last night challenged that, insisting HE was the first in a series of teenage lovers to go with Chantelle.
“We got together within the first week of her moving here about two years ago,” he said.
“She was 13 and I was 14. We dated after meeting at the local shops and I liked her. I thought she was pretty. I used to stay overnight at her house on Fridays and Saturdays.
“We used to sleep in the same bed and within two weeks we’d had full sex. It was in her bedroom while her mum was downstairs.
“We didn’t use any contraception. It wasn’t my first time. But when we split up I found out that she was having sex with lots of other boys I knew.
"Me and my mates fell out over it.” Richard then reeled off a list of 14 and 15-year-old boys who, he claims, slept with Chantelle.
The teenager — who is studying catering at Sussex Downs College — claimed: “To be honest, any one of my mates could be the dad.
“Even Chantelle’s mum asked me if I was the father.
“Alfie is saying he’s definitely the dad—but we’re not so sure.
“I was Chantelle’s closest friend and she said I could be part of the baby’s life if I wanted.
“She wanted me to be there as a father figure but I didn’t fancy that because I have college early in the morning and I didn’t want to get up in the night to feed the baby.
"Now though, I just want to face up to it and know the truth.”
Richard’s mother Barbie-Jayne, 35, backs his story. She has five kids and was a teenager when she gave birth to Richard.
Last night she proudly boasted of twice appearing on TV’s Trisha show as a guest on programmes about having an overbearing personality and overactive sex life.
The third lad in the frame, Tyler, also alleged Chantelle bedded a string of teenagers—a claim she denies. He told us: “There’s a huge question mark over who the real father is. There’s every chance it could be me—but I hope it’s not.
“Having sex with her was the worst mistake I’ve ever made in my life. I wish I’d never met her.
“To be honest I didn’t really fancy her. She asked me out a couple of times when she moved down here but I kept turning her down. I thought she was ugly.
“Now I’m terrified that I could be the daddy, and I’m not the only one.
“There are at least five other boys that I know who were all sleeping with her around that time. They’re all now wondering, ‘Is it me?’
“It was routine for boys to stay over with her in her bed.
“But I only slept with her the once. It was on a Sunday last May shortly after my 14th birthday and it was in her room.
“The next morning at 8.30am, when she should have been going to school, she was helping tidy the house and look after her baby brother.
“I didn’t go to school either and before I left, she told me, ‘If you keep it a secret, you can keep coming back for more.’ Those were her exact words.”
Tyler’s dad, Chris Ireland, 44, said: “I had no idea Tyler was round at Chantelle’s house because he was meant to be with a mate.
“But when it came out that she was pregnant he came to see me and confessed he HAD slept with her.
“It was about nine months ago and we were very worried. He told me he had full sex with her and I was thinking, ‘Oh God, he can’t be the father.’
I even had a proper chat with him about his responsibilities and about what he’d have to do if he was the dad.
“But it turns out there are quite a lot of boys who’ve been with her. Alfie Patten is just one of them.
Only a DNA will determine the truth but I don’t think they’re about to have one.”
Chris, who runs the Eastbourne Utd Colts Under-15 football team, added: “There’s not a lot for young lads to do round here. They all hang around in groups of guys and girls on the streets—it’s a cocktail for disaster.
“My football team are a good bunch of lads but it only keeps them off the streets three days a week.”
Chris also claimed that Chantelle’s mother Penny and Richard’s mother Barbie-Jayne were embroiled in a huge row in the street several months ago.
Grim
He claimed: “Babs and Penny had this noisy altercation after it was discovered that Chantelle was pregnant.
“It was over rumours that the father of the baby was Babs’ son Richard.”
Young Tyler’s own mother left six years ago. With a history of anger management problems he was permanently excluded from school for three months but is about to restart his education.
As he detailed his own concerns he painted a grim picture of life on the Old Town estate—with appalling parallels to Channel 4 comedy drama show Shameless.
The only difference is the total absence of anything remotely funny.
Kirsty :]
15-02-2009, 01:34
Oh dear, I sense a Jezza Kyle moment coming on here.
I don;t really remember sex ed in primary, I know we had a little bit of it in Year 6... but nothing that stuck with me. The only thing that has was last year in school and we had a talk on STD's.... that was well scary... pictures and everything :( not nice... but it deifnately works
Chloe O'brien
15-02-2009, 01:44
It doesn't matter how much sex education kids get in school and if it's in primary or secondary school. The responsibilty of bringing up a child lies with the parents, it's not up to the school or local authority if this girl has one boy staying over or six boys it's her fecking parents responisblity.
My heart goes out to that poor innocent wee soul who doesn't know who her real daddy is. maybe she's better off not knowing because all her assumed grandparents and complete freaks.
parkerman
15-02-2009, 10:41
Oh well, it's all good news for the newspapers. They can put millions on their circulation by pretending to be outraged, shocked, horrified and printing all the gory details. Then when the story flags a bit they can become sympathetic and then finally turn on the participants like a pack of wolves and whip up a bit of frenzy against them.
It's a great win/win situation for them.
it is for the newspapers, its the kid i feel sorry for like you said, she has no chance in life if this is the start she gets
I was reading the MEN before and the guy who was the youngest father previous Jamie someone from manchester he and his girlfriend are still together and have had a nother child and are living together ten years later. Before i read the other two potential fathers story i was going to say at least there is a possibility it could all work out in the end,
*-Rooney-*
15-02-2009, 12:03
i think its sick, the pictures look like a proud new brother not a proud new daddy.
but what sort of parents dont know or even worse let their 12 yr old son go out with a 15 yr old girl. parents should know what their 12 yr old kids are getting up to. especially in this day in age
;644861']Oh dear, I sense a Jezza Kyle moment coming on here.
Same here
I feel really sorry for he little baby, shes barely 2 weeks old, or a week old I cant remember
tammyy2j
16-02-2009, 12:33
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/177665/Richard-Goodsell-Im-the-real-daddy-Alfie-and-I-want-a-DNA-test-to-prove-it.html
A SECOND teenage boy last night claimed HE—and NOT 13-year-old Alfie Patten—is the REAL dad of 15-year-old Chantelle Steadman’s newborn baby Maisie.
Richard Goodsell, aged 16, insisted he often shared a bed with Chantelle over a period of THREE MONTHS around the time she fell pregnant—and sensationally demanded a DNA test to PROVE he’s the daddy.
Young mum Chantelle and baby-faced 13-year-old Alfie Patten made headlines around the world this week when they told their story, vowing to be good parents to their six-day-old daughter.
But the News of the World can today reveal that as well as second maybe-dad Richard a THIRD lad, 14-year-old Tyler Barker, fears he may have fathered little Maisie.
And amazingly the News Of The World has uncovered claims that Chantelle was sleeping with as many as EIGHT teenage boys around the time the baby was conceived on the Old Town estate in Eastbourne, Sussex.
Richard, a trainee chef, said he had sex at least three times with Chantelle at her home, adding: “I KNOW I could be the father. Everyone thinks I am. My friends all tell me that baby has my eyes— even my mum thinks so.
“Only a DNA test is going to sort this out properly. If I am the father, I have the right to know.”
And anxious schoolboy Tyler admitted: “I slept with Chantelle in her bed about nine months ago and I’m really worried I could be the father.
“I hope it’s NOT me. All my mates have been teasing me about it but this isn’t funny, it’s serious.”
Both boys and their parents have made sworn statements in front of a solicitor detailing their nights of sex with Chantelle.
But Chantelle’s family insist she lost her virginity to Alfie and 7lb 3oz Maisie—born after a five-hour labour at Eastbourne Hospital—is his.
Four-foot Alfie says the baby was conceived when he was just 12 after a single night of unprotected sex. Chantelle claimed she was on the Pill but forgot to take it.
However, Richard last night challenged that, insisting HE was the first in a series of teenage lovers to go with Chantelle.
“We got together within the first week of her moving here about two years ago,” he said.
That article has already posted
di marco
16-02-2009, 15:23
if that articles true then thats truely shocking! i feel so sorry for the poor baby
if that articles true then thats truely shocking! i feel so sorry for the poor baby
This is one of those case where the girl claims she only slept with one person and she get a 8 DNA test all negative.... I hope they find out who the real father is
What are her parents playing at letting numerous underage boys sleep in their daughter's bed? It's totally irresponsible and illegal to knowingly allow it to happen. There's something seriously wrong in both these children's families if the parents think it's ok to let their children have sex.
I highly doubt that a 12 year old who had sex for the first time is the father. I'm not disputing that you can get pregnant the first time, but the boy is hardly likely to be producing sperm capable of fertilising an egg at such a young age. His voice hasn't broken, one of the first signs of puberty.
I have a feeling the girl knows exactly who the father is - or who it definately isn't - and is just using this boy's age to garner publicty and make money.
that was my thought when I read this... she knows the dad but what gets more publicity, a dad at 13 (one of the youngest) or another teen pregnancy? and the longer this goes on, the more hurt that 13 year old boy will have if he is not the father.. after all he is spending most time with the baby now
Teachers have been instructed to tell teenage boys about the pleasures of early fatherhood.
Government advice tells them to discuss 'parenting aims and aspirations' with the youngsters.
Teenagers should be equipped with the necessary 'skills, knowledge and attitudes' to prepare them to bring up babies, said the Department of Health.
Lessons should include 'the enjoyment of fatherhood'.
However, the Tories warned that the guidelines from the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Unit glamourised teen parenthood and condoned irresponsible sex.
The publication in question includes pictures of boys with babies and was described by Cathy Hamlyn, then head of the pregnancy unit, as a 'timely resource'.
Miss Hamlyn said 'popular attitudes to teenage fathers have been shaped by the examples which the media have chosen to feature'.
Who's the Daddy? 13-year-old Alfie to take DNA test to prove he is the baby's father
The initiative challenged prejudice and showed that teenage boys could be 'proud and able parents', she added.
'Teachers have opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes which are key in preparation for parenthood through the personal, social, health and citizenship aspects of the national curriculum.
'This includes helping young men to reflect on what parenthood would mean to them and challenging both peers' and adults' misconceptions about young fathers' parenting aims and aspirations.'
Health workers should also encourage young men into active fatherhood, she added.
'Over the next few years, the national and local teenage pregnancy strategies will be working closely with health professionals to improve support for young parents. Key to this will be involving young fathers.'
The guidance is said by its author to show 'positive relationships that may be at odds with current attitudes to teenage fathers'.
Pictures demonstrate 'the enjoyment of fatherhood' and 'the pleasure of holding and being close to your child.'
The advice, produced six years ago was designed for teachers and health professionals 'over the next few years' and remains the current Whitehall guidance.
But Tim Loughton, Tory children's spokesman, said: 'There are still too many young mothers and fathers having their childhoods robbed from them after starting families younger than they planned.
'We need to do more to teach youngsters about the responsibilities of relationships and parenthood and be careful not to glamorise teen parents which may encourage some to take irresponsible risks with sex.'
Patricia Morgan, a researcher on teenage parenthood, said: 'Fatherhood before the age of 16 should be a matter for the police.
The parents of teenagers involved should be charged with neglect for allowing them to sleep together under their roof.
This is child abuse. After 16, fathers who want to help bring their children up should be given one piece of advice: Get a job.'
Labour's teenage pregnancy strategy, based on the extension of sex education and the distribution of contraception, has missed its first targets and Health Department officials have admitted that figures to be published shortly will show teen pregnancy rates rising.
However, the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: 'It is nonsense to suggest that the Government would glamouise early parenthood and we work hard to ensure that young people understand that relationships, of any kind, bring responsibilities.
'Effective sex and relationship education is essential if young people are to make responsible and well-informed decisions.'
StarsOfCCTV
17-02-2009, 13:10
Government advice tells them to discuss 'parenting aims and aspirations' with the youngsters.
Teenagers should be equipped with the necessary 'skills, knowledge and attitudes' to prepare them to bring up babies, said the Department of Health.
How could this be a good method of sex ed? They should focus on preventative measures. They should be educating teenagers on contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and responsibilities that they will have if they get a girl pregnant. Teach kids about the importance of forming real meaningful relationships.
Government advice tells them to discuss 'parenting aims and aspirations' with the youngsters.
Teenagers should be equipped with the necessary 'skills, knowledge and attitudes' to prepare them to bring up babies, said the Department of Health.
How could this be a good method of sex ed? They should focus on preventative measures. They should be educating teenagers on contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and responsibilities that they will have if they get a girl pregnant. Teach kids about the importance of forming real meaningful relationships.
But the majority if kids who are having unprotected sex don't care about catching STDs or getting pregnant or think it won't happen to them.
I'm not agreeing with the Whitehall idea, just saying that the current system obviously isn't working.
StarsOfCCTV
17-02-2009, 16:52
Maybe they should have sex workshops and have activities like those fake babies that cry at specific times or something. That would put them off! :p
*-Rooney-*
17-02-2009, 17:12
yeah like the ones you see on soaps and tv shows. the neighbours teens have just finished a similar project
di marco
17-02-2009, 22:09
surely its only a good idea to teach kids who are already fathers the joys of being a dad so the can be the best they can for their kid. why teach others how good fatherhood can be, surely they want to be persuading them not to have sex, not telling them how great having a baby is? :rolleyes:
After 16, fathers who want to help bring their children up should be given one piece of advice: Get a job.'
haha that bit made me laugh!
di marco
17-02-2009, 22:10
Maybe they should have sex workshops and have activities like those fake babies that cry at specific times or something. That would put them off! :p
i always wanted one of those when i was at school but my school said they were too expensive for them to get! :(
CrazyLea
17-02-2009, 22:47
We had those baby things.. but only 2 people in the class were allowed them. I was glad though.. that baby definately would have stayed in the shed for the week.
Chloe O'brien
17-02-2009, 23:40
Why is down to the teachers and the Government to educated young people on underage sex and STD infections. It's the parents responsibilities. They are the ones who should have forbidden their kids to sleep over at the girls house and they should provide for them for the next 16 years instead of expecting Tax Payers to stump up. I heard on the news tonight that Alfie's mum is being charged because of Alfie playing truant.
If both Alfie and Chantelle are telling the truth about him being Maisie's Father. Then why the DNA test. Someone is lying, if chantelle claims that she only slept with Alfie and the other boys are lying then there a test is not required. they're either taking part in this publicity farse for the money or she has slept with more than one boy.
Pinkbanana
18-02-2009, 00:09
Why is down to the teachers and the Government to educated young people on underage sex and STD infections. It's the parents responsibilities. They are the ones who should have forbidden their kids to sleep over at the girls house and they should provide for them for the next 16 years instead of expecting Tax Payers to stump up. I heard on the news tonight that Alfie's mum is being charged because of Alfie playing truant.
If both Alfie and Chantelle are telling the truth about him being Maisie's Father. Then why the DNA test. Someone is lying, if chantelle claims that she only slept with Alfie and the other boys are lying then there a test is not required. they're either taking part in this publicity farse for the money or she has slept with more than one boy.
Completely agree with everything you have said there kath, from parents being more proactive and taking responsibility to all this who's the daddy saga... think all in all it shows the sad state this country is in... where some young people (esp the 2nd/3rd generation of peeps whose family are living on benefits) see having a child as some sort of career move/as a cash cow. Surely you'd want to aspire to greater things than living on benefits??? :eek:
Chloe O'brien
18-02-2009, 00:21
I have nothing against anyone starting a family at 16 I know a girl who got fell pregnant at 16 and got married she now has four kids and a couple of grandkids and her and hubby are still together after 28 years so young marriges can work, but these are children they shouldn't be having sex it's wrong you can't charge the kids for breaking the law so hold the parents accountable and they should be hit where it hurts the most their wallet. Make them support Alfie, Chantelle and Maisie until both parents have completed their education at 18 and the father is in full-time employment.
Pinkbanana
18-02-2009, 01:10
I have nothing against anyone starting a family at 16 I know a girl who got fell pregnant at 16 and got married she now has four kids and a couple of grandkids and her and hubby are still together after 28 years so young marriges can work, but these are children they shouldn't be having sex it's wrong you can't charge the kids for breaking the law so hold the parents accountable and they should be hit where it hurts the most their wallet. Make them support Alfie, Chantelle and Maisie until both parents have completed their education at 18 and the father is in full-time employment.
I think there are two things here....one is yeah I agree, children (underage) shouldnt be having children and the parents need to take some responsibility in all this...maybe making them more accountable (financially) would help.
However, I think the benefit culture in this country....isn't helping. Mums seeing children as a way to make money...and get housing. I see it all the time where I work... last week I had to fill in forms because a mother thought her son had ADHA (the quietest child in the class) and despite someone coming out to observe him (who came back twice, thinking she had the wrong child the first time around!) and stating he didnt have it. She went on to claim the additional benefits this condition brings....now she is trying to claim 'severe' disability allowance for him too! This woman has four other children and doesn't care about them, whether they arrive at school, they are often at other people's houses being fed and cared for... she sees them in terms of purely squeezing money out of the state...
Sooo I guess what I am saying is that people arent too bothered about getting pregnant,as they know the state will pick up the pieces...
*-Rooney-*
18-02-2009, 10:37
the thing i dont understand is, even if she has slept with 2 or 3 guys over the period of time she fell pregnant why would anyone in there right mind pin point the 13 yr old to be the dad
the thing i dont understand is, even if she has slept with 2 or 3 guys over the period of time she fell pregnant why would anyone in there right mind pin point the 13 yr old to be the dad
Because a 12 year old getting a teenager pregnant creates more media interest than a 16year old getting someone pregnant, and will earn them more money.
Perhaps this boy was the most likely to stand by her?
Who knows why people do and say things?
He looks so young for 13, and conversely she looks old for 15 - they are a strange looking couple.
The other boys who have admitted sleeping with her are idiots. If she has slept with any intelligent boys then they will be keeping their heads down hoping that they don't get found out.
It is so sad to see children throwing away their youth pretending to be adults.
It is even more sad when an innocent wee baby is brought into the mix.
I was reading on NOTW's website and it says that within the time she got pregnant she had slept with anything upto 10 lads. This is what one of the suspected fathers had said cos his mates had slept with her too.
Altogether 3 lads have admitted sleeping at her house and sleeping with her within the same time period. Why on Earth would her parents let lads sleep at her house. She is 15 years old n having loadsa different lads sleeping at her house n her parents arent bothered. What a disgrace. They shouldnt be allowed kids when they are so immature themselves.
I am sorry if no one agrees with me but he just looks so young and childish whereas the girl looks alot older. The photos actually look perverted and are disgusting. Why on earth if you were there parents would you let this go on and then sell stories to the papers basically saying that your kids are slappers and have ruined their lives.
I was reading on NOTW's website and it says that within the time she got pregnant she had slept with anything upto 10 lads. This is what one of the suspected fathers had said cos his mates had slept with her too.
Altogether 3 lads have admitted sleeping at her house and sleeping with her within the same time period. Why on Earth would her parents let lads sleep at her house. She is 15 years old n having loadsa different lads sleeping at her house n her parents arent bothered. What a disgrace. They shouldnt be allowed kids when they are so immature themselves.
I am sorry if no one agrees with me but he just looks so young and childish whereas the girl looks alot older. The photos actually look perverted and are disgusting. Why on earth if you were there parents would you let this go on and then sell stories to the papers basically saying that your kids are slappers and have ruined their lives.
I agree, but you only need to watch one episode of Jeremy Kyle or the like to see that there are people out there that do not have their children' best interests at heart.
This incident is evidence of a problem rather than being the problem itself.
It is very sad.
*-Rooney-*
18-02-2009, 15:08
i would love to see the parents of these two teens, their not caring how the child will be supported as the money coming in from stories will be doing them just now but where will little baby maisie be left when the stories run dry and the money runs out
Chloe O'brien
18-02-2009, 23:34
The parents are letting their kids be paraded like circus freaks for publicity and dosh. Someone had to inform the media and I bet it was Alfie or Chantelle's mum.
di marco
19-02-2009, 16:13
The other boys who have admitted sleeping with her are idiots. If she has slept with any intelligent boys then they will be keeping their heads down hoping that they don't get found out.
true but maybe they didnt want to miss out if it was their baby
Kirsty :]
19-02-2009, 16:56
The other boys who have admitted sleeping with her are idiots. If she has slept with any intelligent boys then they will be keeping their heads down hoping that they don't get found out.
true but maybe they didnt want to miss out if it was their baby
Or maybe that's what their plan was... until they saw the story all over the newspapers and tried to get in on the 15 minutes of fame.
Thirteen-year-old Alfie Patten is the victim of a scam, his girlfriend having been told to pretend he was the father of her baby so their families could strike lucrative deals with the media, a family friend has claimed.
Intense media scrutiny in the UK and around the world has focused on the East Sussex teen, who reportedly conceived baby Maisie with girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, who is 15. Alfie was 12 at the time and Chantelle was 14.
Both Alfie and Chantelle's parents are believed to have netted thousands of pounds in media deals, the Daily Mail said.
But a close friend of Chantelle's parents, Clive Sim, said Chantelle was told by her mother to say Alfie was the father so they could cash in on the story.
A number of other older teens have since claimed to be Maisie's father.
Mr Sim, 39, said the schoolgirl was ordered to keep quiet about sleeping with other boys so the story could be sold to newspapers for thousands of pounds, the Mail reported.
"Penny told Chantelle to keep quiet about other boys because they wouldn't get any money," said Mr Sim, who has reportedly known Chantelle's parents for years.
"They know that Alfie being the dad makes a better story. I think there's a big scam going on here."
Mr Sim's claims come as the UK media watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), said it would investigate allegations tabloid papers The Sun and The People paid for Alfie's story.
The Sun, which broke the story on Friday, ran a photo of Alfie and Maisie on its front page.
Alfie has since said he would take a DNA test to prove he fathered Maisie after two other teenagers told the News Of the World they also slept with Chantelle.
But Mr Sim claimed Alfie was being "exploited" by the families to make as much money as possible, the Mail said.
"It's all pretty sordid ... Alfie may not be an angel and nor is Chantelle.
"But at the end of the day they are only children and it is the adults around them making bad decisions based on money, not their welfare."
Mr Sim said Chantelle's mother also walked in on her young daughter having sex in the past.
Trainee chef Richard Goodsell, 16, said he had sex at least three times with Chantelle around the time she became pregnant, the Mail said.
"I know I could be the father," he said.
"Everyone thinks I am. My friends all tell me that the baby has my eyes - even my mum thinks so."
These people are scum - exploiting their own children and grand child for financial gain.
They should be :readtheru from having children
di marco
19-02-2009, 20:46
if this is true i cant believe they would do this to their kids and that poor baby, some people disgust me!
that is just disgusting.... exploiting a very young boy to make money, shame on the parents.. The girl knew he might not be the dad and yet she went along with it!!
Chloe O'brien
21-02-2009, 00:38
That is just disgusting expoilting a child to get money. Did they honestly think that the truth wouldn't come out. Now all three kids and the other boys who are underage will be taking into care, because of the greed of their parents.
I don't think they will be taken into care. The children aren't unwashed, out of control or uncared for.
Social services will probably get involved in the baby, if they aren't already.
di marco
22-02-2009, 19:54
i doubt any of the older boys would be taken into care. the girl might be though if its true that the mum knew she was sleeping with all these different boys and allowing it to happen
A media blackout has been imposed by a judge on the whole case. The judge said something to the effect that the 13year old is likely to experience bullying and harassment as a result of the media coverage :confused:
Who was it that went to the papers?
di marco
22-02-2009, 20:08
A media blackout has been imposed by a judge on the whole case. The judge said something to the effect that the 13year old is likely to experience bullying and harassment as a result of the media coverage :confused:
Who was it that went to the papers?
exactly, although its not the boys fault, his parents must have agreed to him being photographed etc
A British judge has imposed a media blackout on any new details of the story of a 13-year-old boy who reportedly became a father.
Headlines around the world last week screamed "Father at 13," describing how the boy Alfie had fathered a healthy newborn girl called Maisie with his 15-year-old girlfriend Chantelle.
The plot thickened when two other boys claimed they could also be the father, prompting Alfie to submit to a paternity test that is pending.
And on Wednesday, a friend of Chantelle's parents said Chantelle was told by her mother to say that Alfie was the baby's father so they could cash in on the story.
"Penny told Chantelle to keep quiet about other boys because they wouldn't get any money," Clive Sim told London's Mirror newspaper.
"They know that Alfie being the dad makes a better story.
"I think there's a big scam going on here."
Both Alfie and Chantelle's parents are believed to have netted thousands of pounds in media deals so far.
It has been suggested that there are a further six potential fathers - although Chantelle, 15, is said to be distraught at the allegations.
On Wednesday, High Court Justice Florence Baron banned journalists from reporting any new details of the case - including any information that could prove or disprove Alfie's paternity.
Following a court hearing in private, a statement was read to reporters explaining the judge's reasons for making the order.
It said part of the reason was the young ages of the mother and father, and that "the private and family life of the mother and her baby has been disrupted to such an extent that the judge was concerned about the mother and baby being unable to live a normal family life."
The judge was also reportedly concerned about the privacy of Alfie and the other potential fathers.
Reporting restrictions are increasingly common in Britain where judges can impose blanket bans on publishing details of cases.
Alfie's publicist, Max Clifford, said the situation was strange.
"No one is allowed to say anything new," he said.
They must be disappointed, no more money rolling in. Just a shame that nobody will ever find out who the real father is and her family won't be publicly named and shamed for lying.
Notice how Max Clifford has jumped on the wagon. Got a finger in lots of pies, he has.
di marco
22-02-2009, 20:42
The plot thickened when two other boys claimed they could also be the father, prompting Alfie to submit to a paternity test that is pending.
i wonder whos paying for this seeing as theyre quite expensive?
They must be disappointed, no more money rolling in. Just a shame that nobody will ever find out who the real father is and her family won't be publicly named and shamed for lying.
Notice how Max Clifford has jumped on the wagon. Got a finger in lots of pies, he has.
yeh i wanted to know whether alfie actually was the father or not. and i was thinking that too, isnt he jade goodys publicist or something? im sure ive heard of his name before
Social services are paying for the DNA test.
Max is Jade's publicist. Bit of a slimy bugger.
di marco
22-02-2009, 21:19
Max is Jade's publicist. Bit of a slimy bugger.
thanks, i thought he was
The other boys who have admitted sleeping with her are idiots. If she has slept with any intelligent boys then they will be keeping their heads down hoping that they don't get found out.
true but maybe they didnt want to miss out if it was their baby
One that was claiming he was the dad though said he was praying it wasn't him. Obviously he doesn't want the responsibility of a baby and either has had enough of worrying he may be the father, wants attention, or both. I think the only one of the boys who would be worrying about missing any of their child's life would be Alfie.
di marco
25-02-2009, 22:50
The other boys who have admitted sleeping with her are idiots. If she has slept with any intelligent boys then they will be keeping their heads down hoping that they don't get found out.
true but maybe they didnt want to miss out if it was their baby
One that was claiming he was the dad though said he was praying it wasn't him. Obviously he doesn't want the responsibility of a baby and either has had enough of worrying he may be the father, wants attention, or both. I think the only one of the boys who would be worrying about missing any of their child's life would be Alfie.
i dunno though. although you might not want a baby and so are hoping its not yours, if it is yours you might want to be part of its life
This really is Jeremy Kyle more public
*-Rooney-*
27-02-2009, 18:20
when are the dna results due back
No idea. We won't wind out what they are anyway because the media are banned from reporting anything else about the case.
*-Rooney-*
27-02-2009, 21:39
ah i wanted to know who the dad was
Don't we all. I highly doubt it's Alfie.
Well the results are in - Alfie is NOT the father!
Poor wee sod.
Well the results are in - Alfie is NOT the father!
Poor wee sod.
That is just nasty to use the poor guy like that...
Chloe O'brien
30-03-2009, 11:35
What a surprise. Wonder who the unlucky lad is.
Poor Alfie, he was so prepared to take on the responsibilities. Wonder whether he will want to stay in contact with the baby now, they would have bonded, I am sure. :(
i love it. that just sums up society doesn't it. the jeremy kyle state we're living in. ridiculous
there is so many things wrong with this
1) That a 12 year old boy is having sex with a 15 year old.. he should be playing football.
2) That his "so called" girlfriend aged 15 has had sex with at least 4 other guys in her house
3) That her parents are cashing in on this by duping a 13 year old into thinking he is the dad, letting him spend time with this beautiful baby only now to find out that he is NOT the dad.. poor sod..
Kirsty :]
30-03-2009, 12:13
I feel sorry for the poor baby being brought up in the middle of all of it when the baby never asked for any of it :(
;653678']I feel sorry for the poor baby being brought up in the middle of all of it when the baby never asked for any of it :(
I agree, the press and most people dont seem to care about the baby
At the moment, the baby is too young to know what is going on. I hope that by the time she is old enough to understand, the whole situation has been sorted and the real dad is showing the same support as young Alfie did/does.
Chloe O'brien
30-03-2009, 22:25
The parents should still be held accountable and face charges. These kids shouldn't be having sex and the parents should never had allowed them to sleep over and share a bed.
di marco
31-03-2009, 12:06
its disgusting that they used alfie as the father to get more publicity, but it was obvious alfie wasnt the father anyway
Well the results are in - Alfie is NOT the father!
Poor wee sod.
Alfie Patten, the boy who was reported to have conceived a child when he was 12 years old, is not the baby's father, DNA tests have shown.
Alfie, now 13, from Eastbourne, in East Sussex, told a national newspaper in February that he believed he had made his 15-year-old girlfriend pregnant.
But the tests have established another boy from Eastbourne, who is 15, as the father of Chantelle Stedman's baby.
The results of the DNA tests have been made public following a judge's ruling.
The judgement also reveals that Alfie was "extremely distressed" about the results of the test.
Pictures of Alfie, holding the baby he believed to be his newborn daughter, caused a furore when they were published in the Sun in February and renewed calls for better sex education in Britain.
Politicians were moved to speak out about the case.
Tory leader David Cameron said he found the sight of "children having children" extremely worrying.
And Children's Secretary Ed Balls said it was an "awful" and "unusual" case.
BBC News
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