Sperm Donor with 180 Children Warned in Court Over Unregulated Donations

A sperm donor who claims to have fathered over 180 children across the globe has sparked warnings about the dangers of unregulated sperm donations.

Robert Charles Albon, known by the name “Joe Donor,” has been used in a court case to highlight the risks associated with sperm donations that are not overseen by official medical or legal frameworks.

Albon, who has advertised his sperm donation services online, reportedly donated sperm to families worldwide, from China to Australia. However, his involvement with a couple in the UK turned into a legal battle when he sought parental rights over a child conceived using his sperm.

The case, which was heard in Cardiff Family Court, revealed the distress caused by Albon’s actions. Albon applied for parental responsibility, demanding his name be added to the child’s birth certificate, and insisted that the non-biological mother be referred to as “auntie” rather than as the child’s mother, despite her role as the primary caregiver.

Judge Jonathan Furness KC, who oversaw the case, publicly named Albon in his ruling, emphasizing the importance of protecting women from the potential consequences of unregulated sperm donations.

He stated that Albon, who had only met the child for 10 minutes when they were a few weeks old, had been “wholly self-centred” in his actions and had no positive welfare benefit to the child.

The situation was described as a “horror story” for the couple, particularly for the biological mother, who experienced significant anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts due to the legal proceedings, which dragged on for over two years. The judge noted that the stress of the case had contributed to the breakdown of their relationship.

The court heard that Albon’s actions were motivated by personal gain, suggesting that he may have initiated the legal proceedings as part of an effort to secure his immigration status in the UK.

He denied this claim but was described by the judge as someone seeking control and treating women and children as commodities in his quest to increase the number of children he fathered around the world.

Albon has been donating sperm through various methods, including artificial insemination and sexual intercourse. He has openly advertised his services on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. In a recent interview, he claimed to have fathered around 180 children and met about 60 of them, though he admitted that he might never meet many more.

The judge concluded that there was no benefit to the child in changing the child’s name or in allowing direct contact with Albon. However, it was agreed that Albon could send an annual card or email to the child, to be kept until the child is old enough to understand who it is from.

Judge Furness warned that vulnerable women seeking sperm donations should be aware of the risks of engaging with individuals like Albon, who operate outside of regulated medical channels. He stressed that the public must be fully informed about the potential dangers of unregulated sperm donation, both for the mothers and for the children involved.