A man who has claimed to be a sperm donor for more than 180 children has been unsuccessful in his attempt to legally establish paternity over a child born following the receipt of a £150 Amazon gift card.
The unregulated donor, Robert Albon, in his mid-50s, operates under the alias ‘Joe Donor’ on social media and asserts that he has fathered offspring in various countries, including Australia and Argentina. Originally from the United States, Albon began his unregulated sperm donation activities in 2013 before relocating to England in 2020.
Last October, he petitioned the High Court in London to be acknowledged as the father of a child, identified only as N, who was born in 2021.
According to court records, in 2019, N’s mother entered a relationship with a cisgender woman who later transitioned to male. The partner researched and selected Albon as a potential sperm donor.
Albon visited the couple’s residence and was compensated £100 for his first sperm donation, which did not lead to a pregnancy. Subsequently, a second donation by Albon, in exchange for a £150 Amazon gift card, resulted in conception. Upon N’s birth, the mother specified that this would mark the end of their contact.
N’s birth certificate listed the mother’s partner as the father, but the couple separated in 2023.
In his ruling, Sir Andrew McFarlane highlighted that a false declaration was reported to the authorities, who opted not to take action. Additionally, another case in Middlesbrough in May last year involved a girl, CA, born after her mother approached Albon for a donation. Mr. Justice Poole rejected Albon’s requests for increased involvement, criticizing his lack of empathy and tendency to exert control over others.
Sir Andrew concurred with the previous judgment, stating that Albon’s behavior lacks adherence to recognized moral standards. He emphasized that granting Albon legal fatherhood status would contradict public policy due to his controversial activities.
The judge dismissed Albon’s application, citing it as contrary to public policy and agreed that the mother’s former partner is not N’s father. The case was deemed extreme, involving sperm donation on an unprecedented scale.
Family law partner Connie Atkinson, representing the mother, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, affirming that while Albon is the biological father, he should not be recognized as a legal parent with associated rights.
