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."
And as for the onewho fears standing in front of His Lord and restrainsthe soul from impure evil desires and lusts, verily, Paradise will be his abode [79:40-41]
I didnt know that 13 year old ones looked so ...baby
he didnt even know what " financially " is !!!!!
subhanAllah
where is Yanal?
And as for the onewho fears standing in front of His Lord and restrainsthe soul from impure evil desires and lusts, verily, Paradise will be his abode [79:40-41]
" Its sometimes better people don't get to know you..
Cuz the more they know you, the less they understand & accept you..
Alone is better, what say " - SRK
Now the deed is done I can only hope that this young couple and their baby receive all the support they will need!
I don't think at this stage they have the faintest idea of what's ahead of them ...
I expect that in practical terms baby Maisie will be raised by her grandparents.
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
We would defend it if they were married muslim couple. The only thing I disagree with is they didnt get married. I have no problem with 13 year old boy married to a women and have children. None of my business as long as they are married.
I thought you could buy babies from the hospital though?
I had a wrestle with an alligator, i had a tussle with a whale, I handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail! Only last week i murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick, im so mean i make medicine sick
"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologise!"
kay:
The only thing I disagree with is they didnt get married.
They can't. The youngest you can marry in the UK is 16 with parents permission and 18 without it.
I have no problem with 13 year old boy married to a women and have children. None of my business as long as they are married.
It's not your taxes that will be supporting the family, the father is hardly in a position to do so. It's a ridiculous age to have children; having and raising children involves responsibility. Marriage is an irrelevance in this context... other than that it would be a ridiculous age to get married as well.
I thought you could buy babies from the hospital though?
no no we aint talkin about personal experiences we talkin about a real life event
now first of all .... CHAVS!!!
secondly, like sister glo said now thats it done, lets just hope the kids get a education and good job so they can support themselfs and the baby and the baby has a good upbringin and when they need , they are supported
Jaa-Ro-Nee-Mo!!!
"they ask you when will the help of Allah (swt) come! Certainly Allah (Swt) help is always near"
This is really disturbing...AstaghfirAllah
his face looks SOOO innocent! Like when I saw that pic I thought it was a little boy greeting his new brother!
But nooo it's his son?! What thee jahannam?
He doesn't even look old enough to know where babies come from
Just shows what shaytan does to people.
Btw have you guys seen those pregnant barbie dolls? Perrrfect message to girls.
Last edited by aminahjaan; 02-14-2009 at 01:08 AM.
i know theres so many wrong elements here... and yet a part of me cant help but admire this young man for desiring to raise a child, and admiring the young lady for not aborting the child whilst knowing the pains of labour etc.
truck loads of haram and little shine here, but the shine is given so much media lol
-
My tears testify that i have a heart
yet i feel me and shaytan never part
-
The kid acts like the baby is going to be a new puppy.
"I'll take real good care of it and feed it and etc etc"
(shudder)
Honestly the hypersexual youth in America these days should also be a cause for concern. This new age permissiveness spells nothing but trouble for society.
Buuuuuut of course it wont matter to the rest of society until it bites them in the butt somehow.
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