The British Justice rejected the request for a sperm donor that offers its service in a private way on social networks under the pseudonym of Joe Donor. According to him, he fathered more than 180 children in various countries such as Argentina and Australia for at least 12 years.
Robert Charles Albon50, began donating sperm in 2013. At that time he lived in the United States, where he is originally from. In 2020 he moved to England, as detailed The Independent and the BBC.
In 2021 he donated his sperm to a couple of women who was looking to start a family. On the first occasion he received £100, but the pregnancy did not occur. On a second occasion, the couple once again used Albon’s sperm in exchange for a gift card.
The boy, whose name appears only as «N» In fact, he was born in that year. The mother informed Albon of the minor and made it clear that this would be the last contact they would have. In addition, he was registered on the birth certificate with his partner’s last name.
Upon discovering that the mother’s partner was listed as the father, Albon filed a paternity application with the Family Court, presided over by Judge Sir Andrew McFarlane.
Albon, who is the son of adoptive parents, argued that not knowing the identity of his biological parents had «eroded their sense of identity». In his court filing, he said he wanted to prevent the same thing from happening to this child, and that he was not seeking any responsibility or wanting to spend time with him.
The case of Joe Donor: Why did the British justice system reject his paternity?
In your failedthe magistrate considered that ««The facts of this case are extreme.» and that «Mr. Albon’s actions were contrary to the public interest established by law,» by maintaining that he distributed his genetic material without the license or regulation that enables it.
Although he acknowledged that he is the parent, he considered that granting paternity would make the mother «never know when, or if, Mr. Albon was going to step forward» and seek to have a bond with the child, which «would be disturbing.»
Judge Sir Andrew’s ruling was based on the ruling of Judge Poole, who in May 2025 analyzed the case of another minor – identified as CA – born in early 2023. Judge Poole rejected Albon’s request for further contact and custody of CAarguing that man «lacks empathy» and «seeks to control others.»
«The evidence presented to the court shows that Mr. Albon will have sexual relations or provide his sperm for artificial insemination to virtually anyone who asks,» he warned.
Judge Sir Andrew noted that Judge Poole’s ruling is highly critical of Albon, describing him as “a man tormented by insecurity”, who “leaves a trail of personal confusion after his intervention in the lives of women who are very vulnerable”.
For her part, the lawyer Deirdre Fottrell -defender of «N»‘s mother- described Albon as a «highly dangerous man» who sought to intrude into the life of a family with which he has no emotional bond.
The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority recommended treatment at a licensed clinic where laws and guidelines exist to protect and support all patients and donors. «Using donor sperm from social media groups, websites or apps can carry serious risks for the patient, the donor and any children born,» they said.
