Life changed when 13-year-old Alfie Patten became Britain’s youngest parent and made headlines worldwide.
He and his family were always recognized, and his parents were called the “U. K.’s worst parents”.
But a DNA test revealed a shocking fact.
Who’s Alfie Patten?
In 2009, baby-faced East Sussex youngster Alfie Patten was believed to have fathered a kid with family friend Chantelle Steadman.
In 2009, Chantelle Steadman gave birth to Maisie Roxanne at Eastbourne Hospital in East Sussex, near Alfie’s hometown.
The child was conceived when Chantelle was 15 and Alfie 12.
British tabloid The Sun broke the story, which went global. The story’s popularity was due to Alfie Patten’s boyish appearance and unbroken voice, which contrasted with fatherhood’s seriousness.
The Sun triumphantly stated that the item hit a new web traffic record, demonstrating its size.
Not puberty yet.
Alfie, 12, met Chantelle in 2008 while playing in Lower Dicker, East Sussex, where they lived. His mother thought their acquaintance was harmless and didn’t worry about them being alone, especially because Alfie hadn’t hit puberty.
The Independent reported that the case spurred complaints about Britain’s “under-educated” and “over-sexualized” society. England has a relatively high teenage pregnancy rate compared to other wealthy nations; only the US and New Zealand have higher rates.
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Nigel Waterson, Member of Parliament for Eastbourne, voiced concern, calling it a sad story. This raises serious problems regarding sex education rather than relationship education in schools and the sexualization of society.”
Alfie was asked if he could support his family in a memorable YouTube interview. His reply: “What’s financially?”
Details that surprise
Rereading this story from a few years ago reveals some surprising details. The couple didn’t discover Chantelle was pregnant until her 12-week doctor visit. She said she missed one tablet. They concealed the pregnancy for six weeks until Chantelle’s mother discovered her big tummy.
Alfie remarked, “I thought it would be good to have a baby,” but was afraid to inform his parents. Alfie’s father said his son wanted to be the first to hold his daughter and be a good father. He might have ignored it and played PlayStation at home. But he’s been hospitalized daily, he added.
In February 2009, Alfie became a father when his daughter, Maisie Roxanne, was born at 7 pounds 3 ounces.
The 13-year-old’s newborn photos appeared like he had a new sibling rather than a child.
The time was wild. My first time holding Maisie was amazing. According to Daily Mail, Alfie said, “I was too young to understand the consequences of being a dad but I liked holding her and immediately loved her.”
Too unbelievable?
The story looked ridiculous, but the reality will soon reveal itself. Six weeks after “his” daughter was born, Alfie received a shocking surprise that changed everything.
DNA testing proved Alfie Patten was not the father. Tyler Barker, Alfie’s friend and 14-year-old, was the real father.
Alfie’s mother, Nicola, suspected something was wrong because she couldn’t believe her son was sexually active. Just like that, Alfie was no longer the youngest UK father.
Alfie Patten’s potential Hailsham, East Sussex home. Getty Images
After learning the truth, Alfie cried for days and was heartbroken when Chantelle and her family moved away, leaving him without the baby.
Alfie and his family wanted normalcy after 2009’s tragedy and tumult. However, he made headlines and was even mentioned in U.K. parliament, becoming a symbol of unruly youth.
The dispute
By now, we all know how massive the Alfie Patten case was, with the media coverage being unrelenting. Did you know that the UK’s press watchdog, the PCC, investigated the case?
The PCC, a volunteer regulator for British print newspapers and magazines, sought to know if the papers compensated Alfie Patten’s parents to tell their story.
The Sun’s spokeswoman said, “We will be happy to fully cooperate with PCC’s inquiry into this story, which we absolutely believe to be in the public interest.”
What happened behind the scenes may never be known. After legal limits stopped the PCC from reaching the Patten family, they had to drop their investigation. However, the PCC warned newspapers.
The press claimed their publications raised awareness of teenage pregnancy in Britain and its effects. The publications said they were igniting a much-needed public debate by dramatizing and personalizing the problem.
The Sun also announced plans to set up a trust fund to help raise the baby, Maisie.
Back to normality
Speaking to The Mirror two years after Alfie was accused of fathering a child at 13, his mom Nicola said even after it was proven that Alfie wasn’t the father it still took time to get back to normality.
“Suddenly Alfie’s name was being thrown about in Parliament and on the 10 o’clock news. We were portrayed as a bad family from the wrong side of town,” she told The Mirror.
“Alfie’s a good boy and I was too scared to go out.”
In 2019, Alfie was convicted of criminal damage after smashing cars and property while drunk, The Mirror newspaper reported. According to the article, Alfie, who appeared at a court in the U.K. “narrowly avoided jail.”
The prosecution said officers interfered after Alfie kicked a van, damaged a Skoda (car) and smashed a fence while inebriated.
She said: “He was drunk, swearing and being aggressive.”
The court heard that Patten, still lives at home with his mom, doesn’t have a job and drinks alcohol most days, The Mirror said.
Alfie’s defense said: “He wants to improve to become normal and seek peace rather than continue the destructive, chaotic behavior that is deeply dangerous to his health.”
Alfie Patten today
In 2021, Alfie and his mother, Nicola, made news once more.
They were evicted from their terraced home in Hailsham, East Sussex, after it was discovered to be a drug nexus, according to British publications.
District Judge Teresa Szagun stated, “The premises were used for drug dealing, and there was anti-social behavior spilling out onto the street, affecting the neighborhood.”
He felt he had gotten his 15-year-old girlfriend Chantelle Steadman pregnant at 12.
On Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Daily Mail posted
Alcoholism and unemployment plagued Alfie. The 28-year-old was also reportedly getting therapy for his issues.
After several years away from the spotlight, we can only hope Alfie Patten has found peace and security. From his social media, he appears to be living in Hailsham, East Sussex, a peaceful life away from the spotlight.
How do you believe the media handled his tale and how it affected him and his family? Share your thoughts—this topic is ongoing.