The prolific sperm donor has fathered 180 children (Image: File)
A prolific sperm donor who claims to be the father of 180 children uses desperate mothers as a “commodity”, a judge said.
American-born Robert Charles Albon, who now lives in north-east England, has used social media to advertise his services under the pseudonym Joe Donor.
He has fathered children in China, USA, Argentina, Australia and Britain.
But in an unprecedented move a judge has unmasked Mr Albon to warn others about the dangers of unregulated donation.
It came after he took a same-sex couple to court demanding parental rights over their child, applying for rights and responsibilities, to be named on the birth certificate and changes to the child’s name.
In a judgement handed down at Cardiff Family Court Jonathan Furness KC said he wanted to protect women from the possible consequences of unregulated sperm donation and from using Mr Albon.
He said: “They chose a sperm donor who advertised that he would leave it up to the mother as to whether there should be any contact.
“There was evidence from his own social media material that Mr Albon has indicated that to be the position.
“In reality he is a man who seeks to control.
“Women and children appear to be almost a commodity to him as he sets about increasing the number of his children around the globe – China, USA, Argentina, Australia and UK to name just some of the countries where he has fathered children.”
Albon uses the pseudonym Joe Donor (Image: File)
The judge added: “He is a man who intends to continue donating sperm and vulnerable women who are interested in such services should fully understand the risks of becoming involved with him,” he added.
Mr Albon wanted the child’s non-biological mother to be called “auntie” rather than mother, despite the fact she had acted as a parent from birth.
Both mothers said the stress from the legal proceedings – which took more than two years – had been cited as a factor in the breakdown of their relationship.
The court heard the biological mother suffered from anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts made worse by the case.
The judgement – made in 2023 but only just published – said Mr Albon claimed he wanted to “protect the welfare” of the child when he was actually “wholly self-centred”.
The judge found “no positive welfare benefit in changing the child’s name” and that direct contact between him and the child would not be in the child’s best interests.
Mr Albon advertises on Facebook and .
In a previous interview he said: “I’ve had about 180 live births and I’ve met about 60 of them.”
“I might never see a lot of them, this has to do with the child’s mothers relationship… it’s my preference to have some sort of relationship.”
UK regulations state sperm from a single donor used through licensed clinics may only be used to create a maximum of 10 families.