Robert Albon, an unregulated sperm donor, says he has fathered about 180 children around the world. Despite his many legal defeats and admonishments from judges about his character and the dangers posed by his services, he hasn’t stopped using social media platforms to broadcast and endorse his sperm donation to a growing audience. This predicament has created serious outcry from family law professionals, social workers, and feminist organizations.
Albon has gained notoriety for his appearances on programs such as This Morning and in a documentary aired on Channel 4. This stands in stark contrast to his private life which includes a string of family court cases across England and Wales. Judges have repeatedly denied Albon’s attempts to gain parental responsibility. Yet, they invoke a speculative “risk of harm” associated with his character to justify their actions, preventing him from having in-person visits—including with his children.
Albon is fighting hard to regain custody of his children. Since then, he has petitioned for legal status as their father, despite not being listed on their birth certificates. So far, judges have derailed his ambition. What’s troubling to them is not just his lack of empathy but his shallow relationships with other people. Mr. Justice Poole, who presided over one of Albon’s cases, made a pretty stark observation. He characterized Albon as emotionally shallow and argued that he preys on emotionally fragile women to fulfill his goal of fathering an infinite number of children.
“I think there is a compulsive element to what he is doing that Robert himself does not understand, and this makes it difficult for him to step away from being an unregulated sperm donor.” – Mr. Justice Poole
Social workers have been vocally opposed on the grounds. They say that Albon is less concerned with protecting the women he works with and more focused on preserving his power. According to one social worker’s assessment, Albon views women and children as something that can be exchanged for profit. This aggressive stance serves to mirror his own ongoing determination toward fatherhood.
“Women and children appear to be almost a commodity to him as he sets about increasing the number of his children around the globe.” – Jonathan Furness KC
Albon’s record is marred by domestic violence against women, which has led to frequent police involvement. These new incidents only add to the concerns about his fitness as a sperm donor, and would-be father. And to be honest, judges have criticized Albon’s relationships, saying they feel insincere and surface level. This revelation gives me great pause regarding the well-being of the children he’s fathering.
Albon continues to brush off good faith legal system allegations and warning. He advertises his sperm donation services openly, offering sperm donations for between £20 – £100 per donation. His ads on social media, which he himself claimed he would stop running in such a way, are still up.
“Contact Joe now to get pregnant.” – Robert Albon
His international impact extends to the children he has fathered with women from numerous countries, as far West as Japan and East as China. In doing so, he’s become estranged from his in-laws in those countries, creating further complexities around child support. Perhaps most importantly, Albon is wanted in the United States due to non-payment of child maintenance, making his legal situation inescapably more complex.
Judicial opinions have depicted a horrifying picture of Albon’s motives. The courts have characterized his actions as driven by an old-fashioned sense of entitlement, suggesting a need to control others while seeking validation through fatherhood.
“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.” – Mr. Justice Poole
Albon’s moves stretch way beyond Thailand. They raise critical questions about how we should regulate sperm donation practices. Without oversight to unregulated rebaters such as Albon, the dangers to women rise exponentially. Those who are most vulnerable or most desperate for help producing a pregnancy will be at even higher risk.