Rogue Sperm Donor Who Claims to Have Fathered 180 Children Will Not Be Listed on Child’s Birth Certificate

Robert Albon, known as Joe Donor and active on social media platforms, has been denied the right to have his name included on a child’s birth certificate despite claiming to have fathered over 180 offspring worldwide. Albon submitted a parentage declaration to the Family Court after a couple he had donated to listed the mother’s partner as the father on the baby’s certificate. The court’s chief judge, Sir Andrew McFarlane, rejected the application, calling the case’s circumstances “extreme.”

Albon, originally from the United States and in his 50s, is confirmed as the biological parent of the child in question. The mother was in a lesbian relationship during conception but was not married. Before pregnancy, she and her partner paid Albon £100 in cash and a £150 Amazon gift card for his sperm. By the time the child was born, the mother’s partner had transitioned to a trans man and was officially recorded as the father.

“The facts of this case are extreme.”

The couple had no intention of involving Albon in the child’s life, planning to explain the child’s origins in an age-appropriate manner. In rare cases, the Family Court names parents publicly to shield children from identification, but BBC Wales successfully argued for Albon’s name to be revealed, citing public interest in the case.

Albon, who is adopted, emphasized in court documents that his lack of knowledge about his own birth parents had “eroded his sense of self.” He sought to prevent the same from happening to the child, without demanding parental responsibility or time with the child. However, Sir Andrew McFarlane noted that Albon might “seek to assert himself as an active parent,” driven by personal motives rather than empathy for the mother.

A court report stated that the case had caused the mother “considerable anxiety” and was the “hardest experience of her life.” The judge acknowledged her vulnerable position, stating, “I fully accept that ‘vulnerable’ is, sadly, and apt description of her position, both in terms of her internal resources and the situation in which she finds herself with respect to Mr Albon.” The application was dismissed because naming Albon would “be manifestly contrary to public policy.”

This marks the third Family Court ruling on Albon’s unregulated sperm donations. A 2023 case, released in February 2025, saw Albon attempt to be named on another child’s certificate and change its surname to match his. Jonathan Furness KC ruled against this, saying it was not in the child’s best interest. The decision aimed to protect women from the risks of unlicensed donorship, including Albon’s influence.

In May 2025, another judgment was issued, rejecting Albon’s request for custody of two children. Mr Justice Poole criticized his approach, stating, “He seeks to control others to prove that he is right, to secure recognition, to get his own way and to serve his own ends.” Despite this, Sir Andrew McFarlane clarified that his ruling does not automatically dismiss all future applications by unregulated donors.

Albon’s sperm donation method lacks official oversight, as it is not conducted through licensed clinics. There are no health assessments, legal protections against claiming parental rights, or limits on the number of children per donor. UK regulations cap licensed clinic donations at 10 families per donor. Albon has previously stated his motivation was to “help create life,” though his actions have sparked debate over parental recognition and the impact on children’s identities.