Boy becomes father at age of 13

[fruityness]

Source

A schoolboy who has become a dad at the age of 13 has insisted he will be a good parent.

Alfie Patten's girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, gave birth to Maisie Roxanne in Eastbourne Hospital, East Sussex, four days ago.

Police have said they are not looking at prosecuting anyone in the case of Alfie, who stands just 4ft tall and looks young for his age.

The teenager, who told The Sun "I thought it would be good to have a baby", admitted he did not think about how he would afford to raise his child, saying: "I don't really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10," he said.

Alfie, who lives with his mother Nicola, 43, in Eastbourne, was 12 when Maisie was conceived. The pair, who have the support of their parents, kept the pregnancy secret until Chantelle's mother Penny noticed her daughter's swollen belly.

Alfie said: "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. I didn't know what it would be like to be a dad. I will be good, though, and care for it."

His father Dennis said his son wanted to be a devoted and responsible father, but did not fully appreciate what he had taken on by having a child.

He said Alfie had wanted to be the first to hold his child. "He could have shrugged his shoulders and sat at home on his PlayStation. But he has been at the hospital every day," he said.

Chantelle and Maisie have been discharged from hospital and are living with her family in a council house in Eastbourne.

Neighbours in the quiet residential area spoke of their shock at the revelation. Retired hospital porter John Holmes, 90, said: "I'm surprised really. He is such a nice boy. I would hardly dare go home if I was a dad at 13."

England has long had the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in western Europe. Jenny Teague, of Dorset, was for many years regarded as the UK's youngest mum giving birth in 1997, aged just 12 to Sasha.

And Zoe Hodgson, of Birstall, West Yorkshire, was 12 when she conceived and 13 when she gave birth in 2005 to son Leo, whom she used as inspiration to continue her studies, passing 11 GCSEs.

Tony Kerridge, spokesman for the sexual health specialist Marie Stopes International, called for better children's sex education starting in primary school.

He said: "Fortunately the education department has made an announcement that it will start sex and relationship education for primary age school children and that is a positive move.

"Having said that it's the quality of the education that needs to be looked at very closely.

"All the evidence from other countries, particularly Scandinavia and Holland, clearly demonstrates that the earlier you start giving young people proper information so that they can make informed choices it does two things - it delays first sex which is really important, and when that sex act does take place the couple usually negotiates some kind of contraceptive usage."

Oh dear. Nothing else I can say. Hope the kid has the support he'll need in raising the other kid.

[monkey7]

Dear God :| Thirteen? I wouldn't even think about it now, which is at age seventeen.

"All the evidence from other countries, particularly Scandinavia and Holland, clearly demonstrates that the earlier you start giving young people proper information so that they can make informed choices it does two things - it delays first sex which is really important, and when that sex act does take place the couple usually negotiates some kind of contraceptive usage."

The dutch must just be reasonable people :/ We haven't had any kind of sexual 'lessons' at either primary or secondary school.

[Rastalovich]

Just a few things.

Sterilize both of them.

Proves that even with 11 GCSEs, u can still be stupid. If she goes onto university, which I'm sure she will, with GMTV/Sun/Sky backing, any benefits should be tallied and paid back.

Surprised it doesn't happen more often tbh. Nature seems to think it's ok.

[Jim]

Saw this in the Sun yesterday. My thoery (as sick as it may be) is that the Dad got the sons girlfriend pregnant. As both families are living off benefits they decided to put some spin on the story to get some cash from the newspapers.

[Marcus]

Haven't read the story so I don't know all (any) the details but my initial reaction was to castrate them both immediatly!

[Pjalchemist]

Originally Posted by name='monkey7'

Dear God :| Thirteen? I wouldn't even think about it now, which is at age seventeen.

The dutch must just be reasonable people :/ We haven't had any kind of sexual 'lessons' at either primary or secondary school.

Just all that weed that casues EDF

[fruityness]

I can understand how this can happen, I dont understand why the UK has such a huge problem with teeage pregnancy. I often think thats its the drink-culture thats so widespread here - more importantly the attitude people in general, epsecially the young have to drink - the whole binge drinking culture.

At 13 what do you know? Nothing. Period. To try and raise a kid, I just dont see how anyone could, it's going to be down to the parents / grand parents, while the father is playing with action man.

I feel sorry for the baby, lets have a BBC documentary in 20 years on him/her, who's willing to be they got to A-levels or university?

[GavX]

At least the Mother wasn't as young an age I suppose, but it seems a shame, she now has to look after that kid for 15 years, her choice I suppose.

I didn't even know guys were able to get a girl pregnant at 13... when do we hit puberty these days?

[Youngie1337]

Me around 11 lol, this story makes me and my GF feel really sick. The fact of allowing this to happen, this boy must of seen somewhere how to have sex, when I was 13 I was still unsure on how to have sex. When I was 15 I learnt obv, sick!!!!!

[Ging3r]

Saw this yesterday, and IMO its just wrong......