Sperm donor 'dad-of-180' loses parental rights bid

A High Court judge questioned Robert Albon's motivation for fathering so many children

An unregulated sperm donor, who claims to have fathered more than 180 children around the world, has been denied increased parental rights for a child he fathered as a donor through natural insemination.

Robert Albon, who posted sperm samples packaged with frozen tomato puree to keep them cold, sought parental control and contact with the girl, born in 2023.

High Court judge Mr Justice Poole refused Mr Albon's bid, claiming the serial donor "seeks to control others" and could move on to another family "as he has done previously".

He said: "The evidence before the court shows that Mr Albon will have sex with, or provide his sperm for artificial insemination, to just about anyone who asks."

A 51-page judgement has been published in relation to a hearing in March, at which the family court in Middlesbrough considered arrangements for the girl born in 2023, referred to as CA.

The child's mother and the relevant local authority, based in the north-east of England, supported limited, indirect contact with Mr Albon, proposals which he opposed.

The 54-year-old instead asked a judge to give him parental responsibility along with face-to-face contact.

The court also heard the case of another girl fathered by Mr Albon in 2022 and known as CB.

The local authority in that case, also based in the North East, had asked for a care order with indirect contact after adoption or long-term fostering, while Mr Albon asked for the child to be placed in his care.

This was also refused.

'Compelled to reproduce?'

The High Court judge said UK women who used services offered by Mr Albon, who advertised himself as Joe Donor, were mostly single, in same-sex relationships or "vulnerable".

The court heard the children in the two cases were conceived when Mr Albon had sex with their mothers.

The judge questioned the donor's motives and asked: "Is he compelled to reproduce?

"Does he enjoy gratification from knowing that there are scores of his children on the earth?"

The judge also said Mr Albon, who is originally from the United States, had tried to control five of the six women in England and Wales who had his children, including using litigation.

Mr Justice Poole said: "He seeks to control others to prove that he is right, to secure recognition, to get his own way and to serve his own ends."

The judge said that CB could be adopted, but not by her father as there was a "substantial risk" she would be cast aside.

While Mr Albon could be declared CA's father on a re-registered birth certificate, he was denied parental responsibility or increased contact.

"I have no confidence that Mr Albon would commit to contact and find it likely that he would move on to another family when it suited him, as he has done previously," the judge said.

Mr Albon was allowed to send a letter or card once a year to CA, to be passed on once CA's mother thinks it is appropriate.

Mr Justice Poole also ordered his judgment be sent to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Home Office.

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