DNA test for British boy dad

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A school boy - dubbed 'Boy dad' by the British tabloids - is reportedly offering to take a DNA test to prove he's the father of his girlfriend's baby.

The Sun newspaper in Britain reported last week that 13-year-old Alfie Patten had become one of the country's youngest dads. Four-foot tall Alfie, who looks considerably younger than his age, was just 12 when his now 15-year-old girlfriend Chantelle Steadman conceived after a night of unprotected sex.

However, the controversial story took an even more sordid turn today when The Sun revealed that three other youths were lining up to challenge paternity of baby Maisie Roxanne.

Alfie has offered to take a DNA test to prove he is the father and protect Chantelle's reputation.

Speaking to The Sun from his home in Essex yesterday, Alfie said: "Other stupid boys are lying, saying bad things, like they have slept with Chantelle too."

"But I am the only boyfriend she has had and we've been together for two years, so I must be the dad.

"When she found out she was having a baby, I asked her 'Am I the dad?' and she went 'Yeah' so I believe her.

"I didn't know about DNA tests before, but Mum explained it's when they do a swab in your mouth and it tells you if you're the dad.

"So, if I have that, they can all shut up. But I don't really care what people say. And I don't like them being bad about Chantelle."

Alfie's dad Dennis - who The Sun said had dumped his wife, Nicola, 43, for a teenage friend of her eldest daughter - is pushing for his son to take the test.

Meanwhile, Alfie and Chantelle's baby has drawn attention to Britain's high teenage pregnancy rate. 

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the "tragic" case illustrated the country's social decline.

"It exemplifies the point we have been making about broken Britain," he told London's Evening Standard newspaper.

"It's not about being accusative: it's about pointing out the complete collapse in some parts of society of any sense of what's right and wrong."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was not familiar with the individual case, but told Sky TV: "All of us would want to avoid teenage pregnancies."

Maisie Roxanne was born in Eastbourne on Monday and police said that, despite both children being underage, they would not be looking into the case.

In a short video clip posted on YouTube, Alfie, whose voice has not broken yet, said he did not know how he would support his family.

He told The Sun reporter: "I thought it would be good to have a baby. I didn't think about how we would afford it. I don't really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me 10 pounds."

Chantelle and Alfie have pledged to raise the child as best they can. "We know we made a mistake but I wouldn't change it now," Chantelle was quoted by The Sun as saying.

Chantelle was taking birth control pills but missed one, The Sun reported. Friends and relatives left the family home near Eastbourne, south of London, on Saturday without speaking to reporters gathered outside. The teenagers could not be contacted.

- with AP