British boy becomes father at 13

[Vendetta]

Is it wrong that my first thought was 'oh wow she's fuck ugly'?

Nope. I wouldn't touch her with yours.

[PREDATOR490]

Not really going to comment on this situation because I come from an area where I expect this kind of stuff to happen.

What I will comment on is the age thing here. This girl is 15 years old and the kid is 13, wont that cause some legal issues due to being underage ?
The guy that is 16 years old would especially be vulnerable to legal issues I would imagine.

[Kitsune]

About a year ago, possibly two years ago, I remember reading about a case where in Utah that a prosecutor was bringing up charges against a pair of eleven or twelve years old for having sex with each other. Does anybody remember anything about the case?

[B5B7]

Not really going to comment on this situation because I come from an area where I expect this kind of stuff to happen.

What I will comment on is the age thing here. This girl is 15 years old and the kid is 13, wont that cause some legal issues due to being underage ?
The guy that is 16 years old would especially be vulnerable to legal issues I would imagine.

If the 16 yo is the father there is no legal problem for him. I think there is a law in both Australia and UK where if the two participants are within 2 years age of each other it is not illegal (say a 15 yo and a 17 yo); the age of consent is 16 in law, but often ignored in practice anyway [historical footnote: prior to late 19th century in Britain the age of consent was 14, but got raised because of pressure from the Salvation Army].

An issue that hasn't been raised - why was this kid's name published in the first place? Young offenders' names aren't published, and similar media responsibility should have been displayed here [especially if, as is likely, it turns out that he is not the father].

[Nathaniel]

About a year ago, possibly two years ago, I remember reading about a case where in Utah that a prosecutor was bringing up charges against a pair of eleven or twelve years old for having sex with each other. Does anybody remember anything about the case?

"Court [r]ejects as '[a]bsurd' the sex crime (sexual contact with a child under 14) prosecution -- even in juvenile court -- of a 12- and a 13-year-old who had consensual sex with each other."

This one?

[Kitsune]

Thanks.....

[FSTargetDrone]

An issue that hasn't been raised - why was this kid's name published in the first place? Young offenders' names aren't published, and similar media responsibility should have been displayed here [especially if, as is likely, it turns out that he is not the father].

Name and photo. Aside from sensationalism, I see no justification of proving such details about a minor in this sort of case.

[pj1351]

From the OP:

The baby, who weighed in at seven pounds and 3.27 kilograms, was conceived after just one night of unprotected sex, the Sun reported. Alfie was 12-years-old at the time.

I have no idea how reliable it is in this case, but in the printed article in today's Herald Sun (sorry, don't have a copy with me to copy the text from), to paraphrase: "a family friend" stated that Chantelle only had sex with Alfie once, thereafter keeping him away.

So, we have one boy who appears to be 5 years younger than his age of 13 even now (has any media organisation tried to find any older photos of Alfie from around the time when he supposedly conceived that baby?)... And two older boys who have both made sworn statements in front of a solicitor that they also had sex with the girl in the same time frame... Anybody else have suspicions that Alfie and Chantelle's parents might have engineered the whole thing to sell their stories to media rags?

[mr friendly guy]

funny you should mention that

Scrutiny switches from boy-father to 'pay-deal' with papers

* Georgina Robinson
* February 17, 2009 - 2:09PM


Scrutiny has switched from boy-father Alfie Patten to the newspapers that broke his story as the British media watchdog launches a probe into alleged payments made to the teen.

- Probe into 'payment' claims
- Chantelle's story
- 'I love Alfie': schoolgirl

The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) said it would investigate allegations tabloid papers The Sun and The People paid for 13-year-old Alfie's story.

The East Sussex teen reportedly conceived baby Maisie with girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, who is 15. Alfie was 12 at the time and Chantelle was 14.

The Sun broke the story on Friday. Alfie has since said he would take a DNA test to prove he fathered Maisie after two other teenagers told News Of The World they also slept with Chantelle.

The 15-year-old schoolgirl hit out at the boys' claims, telling The Sun: "I love Alfie ... I lost my virginity to him."

The PCC said payment for the teenagers' story could be in breach of the Editor's Code of Conduct, which stipulates: "Minors must not be paid for material involving children's welfare, nor parents or guardians for material about their children or wards, unless it is clearly in the child's interests."

In a statement, the PCC said: "Newspapers are allowed to breach this rule if there is a demonstrable public interest.

"The PCC will make a public ruling on the matter when it has completed its investigation. The Commission has powers - under which it is conducting this inquiry - to launch investigations of its own volition."

A ruling on the matter is expected soon.

The Sun has continued its coverage of the young couple's plight, telling Chantelle's side of the story on Monday.

"Cruel things have been said but I am just trying to look after my baby and ignore them," she told the newspaper.

"We decided to start a physical relationship because we love each other. There has been no one else."

Chantelle also said she and Alfie had been sharing baby duties since Maisie's birth last week.

"He has looked after me so well. He has held my hand and rubbed my back," she said.

"We can't stand being away from each other. He gets upset when he is away from Maisie and me."

The newspaper also reported that six children plus baby Maisie lived in a three-bedroom council house in Eastbourne, East Sussex, with Chantelle's mother, Penny. Alfie lives with his parents in nearby Hailsham.

[ray245]

So, the Sun is the one responsible for starting this 'news'?

Seriously, why is so many people treating the Sun as a credible news source?

[Solauren]

Slight update from Yahoo News;

Apparently, sources are now saying the girl was convinced to lie about the father of the child in order to make $ from media deals.

A judge in the UK as since banned further newspaper (and possibly other media) coverage of the story.

Man, I feel so sorry for that kid (the boy + the baby), even if it's not a scam.