Pazza
19-02-2009, 02:11 PM
From http://www.smh.com.au/world/13yearold-father-alfie-the-victim-of-cash-scam-girlfriends-family-friend-says-20090219-8bq0.html
Thirteen-year-old Alfie Patten is the victim of a scam, his girlfriend having been told to pretend he was the father of her baby so their families could strike lucrative deals with the media, a family friend has claimed.
Intense media scrutiny in the UK and around the world has focused on the East Sussex teen, who reportedly conceived baby Maisie with girlfriend Chantelle Steadman (http://www.smh.com.au/world/13yearold-boy-becomes-a-father-20090216-88iu.html), who is 15. Alfie was 12 at the time and Chantelle was 14.
Both Alfie and Chantelle's parents are believed to have netted thousands of pounds in media deals, the Daily Mail said.
But a close friend of Chantelle's parents, Clive Sim, said Chantelle was told by her mother to say Alfie was the father so they could cash in on the story.
A number of other older teens have since claimed to be Maisie's father.
Mr Sim, 39, said the schoolgirl was ordered to keep quiet about sleeping with other boys so the story could be sold to newspapers for thousands of pounds, the Mail reported.
"Penny told Chantelle to keep quiet about other boys because they wouldn't get any money," said Mr Sim, who has reportedly known Chantelle's parents for years.
"They know that Alfie being the dad makes a better story. I think there's a big scam going on here."
Mr Sim's claims come as the UK media watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), said it would investigate allegations (http://www.smh.com.au/world/scrutiny-switches-from-boyfather-to-paydeal--with-papers-20090217-89ig.html) tabloid papers The Sun and The People paid for Alfie's story.
The Sun, which broke the story on Friday, ran a photo of Alfie and Maisie on its front page.
Alfie has since said he would take a DNA test to prove he fathered Maisie after two other teenagers told the News Of the World they also slept with Chantelle.
But Mr Sim claimed Alfie was being "exploited" by the families to make as much money as possible, the Mail said.
"It's all pretty sordid ... Alfie may not be an angel and nor is Chantelle.
"But at the end of the day they are only children and it is the adults around them making bad decisions based on money, not their welfare."
Mr Sim said Chantelle's mother also walked in on her young daughter having sex in the past.
Trainee chef Richard Goodsell, 16, said he had sex at least three times with Chantelle around the time she became pregnant, the Mail said.
"I know I could be the father," he said.
"Everyone thinks I am. My friends all tell me that the baby has my eyes - even my mum thinks so."
Don't know what you think, but I reckon this could be true.
REMEMBER: This is ALLEDGED!
Thirteen-year-old Alfie Patten is the victim of a scam, his girlfriend having been told to pretend he was the father of her baby so their families could strike lucrative deals with the media, a family friend has claimed.
Intense media scrutiny in the UK and around the world has focused on the East Sussex teen, who reportedly conceived baby Maisie with girlfriend Chantelle Steadman (http://www.smh.com.au/world/13yearold-boy-becomes-a-father-20090216-88iu.html), who is 15. Alfie was 12 at the time and Chantelle was 14.
Both Alfie and Chantelle's parents are believed to have netted thousands of pounds in media deals, the Daily Mail said.
But a close friend of Chantelle's parents, Clive Sim, said Chantelle was told by her mother to say Alfie was the father so they could cash in on the story.
A number of other older teens have since claimed to be Maisie's father.
Mr Sim, 39, said the schoolgirl was ordered to keep quiet about sleeping with other boys so the story could be sold to newspapers for thousands of pounds, the Mail reported.
"Penny told Chantelle to keep quiet about other boys because they wouldn't get any money," said Mr Sim, who has reportedly known Chantelle's parents for years.
"They know that Alfie being the dad makes a better story. I think there's a big scam going on here."
Mr Sim's claims come as the UK media watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), said it would investigate allegations (http://www.smh.com.au/world/scrutiny-switches-from-boyfather-to-paydeal--with-papers-20090217-89ig.html) tabloid papers The Sun and The People paid for Alfie's story.
The Sun, which broke the story on Friday, ran a photo of Alfie and Maisie on its front page.
Alfie has since said he would take a DNA test to prove he fathered Maisie after two other teenagers told the News Of the World they also slept with Chantelle.
But Mr Sim claimed Alfie was being "exploited" by the families to make as much money as possible, the Mail said.
"It's all pretty sordid ... Alfie may not be an angel and nor is Chantelle.
"But at the end of the day they are only children and it is the adults around them making bad decisions based on money, not their welfare."
Mr Sim said Chantelle's mother also walked in on her young daughter having sex in the past.
Trainee chef Richard Goodsell, 16, said he had sex at least three times with Chantelle around the time she became pregnant, the Mail said.
"I know I could be the father," he said.
"Everyone thinks I am. My friends all tell me that the baby has my eyes - even my mum thinks so."
Don't know what you think, but I reckon this could be true.
REMEMBER: This is ALLEDGED!