Sperm donor ‘wanted to be a dad’

A LESBIAN who had children with her partner thanks to a friend who donated sperm hit back at his claims that he is being unfairly asked to pay child support.

Firefighter Andy Bathie, 37, from Enfield, north London, said he was assured by Sharon and Terri Arnold he would have no personal or financial involvement in the children’s upbringing.

He claims he the Child Support Agency is forcing him to pay thousands of pounds in maintenance for the boy and girl the couple had and is campaigning for a change in the law to stop him being recognised as their legal parent.

But yesterday Terri Arnold — who has since separated from her partner — said: “What people don’t understand is that they have only heard one side of the story. He played a father’s role for two years.”

The couple approached Mr Bathie five years ago after they “married” in a civil ceremony, and Ms Arnold admitted the initial arrangement was for him just to be a donor.

“I will openly admit to that, but it was him that changed his mind. He wanted to be involved, he wanted to be a dad.”

Mr Bathie had not wanted to go on the birth certificate, Ms Arnold said.

“At the end of the day, he walked away. He knew full well. It is not like the support agency contacted him out of the blue.”

Unaware of the legal pitfalls, Mr Bathie did notdonate through a clinic.

Only men who donate sperm through licensed fertility clinics are not considered the legal father of any child born as a result of a donation.