13 year old becomes a father
A 13-year-old British boy — with the physical appearance of a child much younger, standing at 4 feet tall — is the father of a new baby girl, The Sun reports.
Alfie Patten's girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, became pregnant after a one-time tryst between the two, according to Alfie's father, Dennis.
"He didn’t know what he was doing and of the complications that could come," said Dennis Patten.
The young couple kept their situation a secret until Steadman's pregnancy began to show. She said she knew they made a mistake but would be loving parents.
"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," Alfie Patten said.
Despite being a young father, Alfie's father describes him as a typical boy that "loves computer games and boxing."
Britain’s youngest known father is Sean Stewart, who became a dad at 12 in 1998.
These children could be brother and sister but they are father and daughter.
Alfie Patten, 13, and his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, decided to keep Maisie who was conceived after one night of unprotected sex.
Alfie, who is just 4ft tall, hasn't yet hit puberty and was 12 when the baby was conceived, said: "When my mum found out, I thought I was going to get in trouble. We wanted to have the baby but were worried about 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," he told The Sun newspaper.
His daughter Maise Roxanne was born four days ago and weighed 7lb 3oz. The couple are from in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Chantelle, the baby's mother, said last night: "I’m tired after the birth. I was nervous after going into labour but otherwise I was quite excited.
“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."
They found out 12 weeks into the pregnancy but hid it from their parents for a further six weeks until Chantelle's mother, Penny, 38, became suspicious when her daughter started gaining weight and confronted her about it.
“[Alfie] said I should tell my mum but I was too scared," Chantelle said.
“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.”
Denny Patten, Alfie's father, said his son does not really understand the gravity of the situation - but seemed to want to be a good father.
Alfie, who lives with his mother Nicola, 43, wanted to be the first to hold the baby after the birth.
Mr Patten, 45, said: "He could have shrugged his shoulders and sat at home on his Playstation. But he has been at the hospital everyday."
Mr Patten, who is separated from Alfie's mother and has fathered nine children himself, believes his son is scared.
“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," he said.
“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.”
Mr Patten, 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, who regularly has Alfie to stay the night, 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.”
Alfie said he didn't know how much nappies cost. "I didn't think about how we would afford it. I don't really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10."
Mrs Steadman, Chantelle's mother, 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.”
Chantelle lives with her mother and father, Steve 43, and her five siblings, in a rented council house in Eastbourne. Alfie spends most of his time at the Steadman's house and keeps a spare school uniform there to enable him to stay over.
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 father at 12 when the girl next door, 15-year-old Emma Webster, gave birth in Sharnbrook, Bedford, in 1998. They split up six months later.
The legal age for heterosexual or homosexual sex in England, Wales and Scotland is 16, in Northern Ireland teens must be 17 before they can legally have intercourse.
If two underage teens have sex it is illegal but the law is not widely enforced and usually the Crown stops proceedings on the grounds of public interest.
If parents are aware of their underage children having sex they could theoretically risk prosecution for aiding and abetting the unlawful intercourse.
Girls can lawfully have sex at 16 but there are extra rules applying to those under 13. Sex with a girl below the age of 13 is punishable under a "statutory rape" charge with a maximum sentence of life because girls of that age are not deemed mature enough to consent.
Michelle Elliott, a child psycologist and chief executive of Kidscape, a charity against child abuse, criticised those who have made the story pubic, putting the children involved in line for public vilification.
"I think it is very sad that this happened but I think that they are trying their best. They didn't have an abortion, they brought a baby into the world. In a way that shows a sweet caring side of this. But it shows that sex sells and that anything around this kind of issue is almost titillating.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle2233878.ece
Alfie Patten's girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, became pregnant after a one-time tryst between the two, according to Alfie's father, Dennis.
"He didn’t know what he was doing and of the complications that could come," said Dennis Patten.
The young couple kept their situation a secret until Steadman's pregnancy began to show. She said she knew they made a mistake but would be loving parents.
"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," Alfie Patten said.
Despite being a young father, Alfie's father describes him as a typical boy that "loves computer games and boxing."
Britain’s youngest known father is Sean Stewart, who became a dad at 12 in 1998.
These children could be brother and sister but they are father and daughter.
Alfie Patten, 13, and his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, decided to keep Maisie who was conceived after one night of unprotected sex.
Alfie, who is just 4ft tall, hasn't yet hit puberty and was 12 when the baby was conceived, said: "When my mum found out, I thought I was going to get in trouble. We wanted to have the baby but were worried about 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," he told The Sun newspaper.
His daughter Maise Roxanne was born four days ago and weighed 7lb 3oz. The couple are from in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Chantelle, the baby's mother, said last night: "I’m tired after the birth. I was nervous after going into labour but otherwise I was quite excited.
“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."
They found out 12 weeks into the pregnancy but hid it from their parents for a further six weeks until Chantelle's mother, Penny, 38, became suspicious when her daughter started gaining weight and confronted her about it.
“[Alfie] said I should tell my mum but I was too scared," Chantelle said.
“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.”
Denny Patten, Alfie's father, said his son does not really understand the gravity of the situation - but seemed to want to be a good father.
Alfie, who lives with his mother Nicola, 43, wanted to be the first to hold the baby after the birth.
Mr Patten, 45, said: "He could have shrugged his shoulders and sat at home on his Playstation. But he has been at the hospital everyday."
Mr Patten, who is separated from Alfie's mother and has fathered nine children himself, believes his son is scared.
“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," he said.
“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.”
Mr Patten, 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, who regularly has Alfie to stay the night, 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.”
Alfie said he didn't know how much nappies cost. "I didn't think about how we would afford it. I don't really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10."
Mrs Steadman, Chantelle's mother, 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.”
Chantelle lives with her mother and father, Steve 43, and her five siblings, in a rented council house in Eastbourne. Alfie spends most of his time at the Steadman's house and keeps a spare school uniform there to enable him to stay over.
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 father at 12 when the girl next door, 15-year-old Emma Webster, gave birth in Sharnbrook, Bedford, in 1998. They split up six months later.
The legal age for heterosexual or homosexual sex in England, Wales and Scotland is 16, in Northern Ireland teens must be 17 before they can legally have intercourse.
If two underage teens have sex it is illegal but the law is not widely enforced and usually the Crown stops proceedings on the grounds of public interest.
If parents are aware of their underage children having sex they could theoretically risk prosecution for aiding and abetting the unlawful intercourse.
Girls can lawfully have sex at 16 but there are extra rules applying to those under 13. Sex with a girl below the age of 13 is punishable under a "statutory rape" charge with a maximum sentence of life because girls of that age are not deemed mature enough to consent.
Michelle Elliott, a child psycologist and chief executive of Kidscape, a charity against child abuse, criticised those who have made the story pubic, putting the children involved in line for public vilification.
"I think it is very sad that this happened but I think that they are trying their best. They didn't have an abortion, they brought a baby into the world. In a way that shows a sweet caring side of this. But it shows that sex sells and that anything around this kind of issue is almost titillating.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle2233878.ece
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