We wanted to bring baby Gammy home, says Australian couple

An Australian couple has denied that they abandoned their son born with Down Syndrome to a surrogate mother in Thailand.

David and Wendy Farnell said in an interview today that the boy's surrogate mother, Pattaramon Chanbua, insisted she be allowed to keep the boy and that she threatened to also keep his twin sister.

"At that time we were just stressing that we were going to lose our little girl," said David Farnell.

"We needed her to be safe.

"We wanted to bring him with us. It’s been very stressing. We miss our little boy."

Ms Pattaramon has accused the Farnells of leaving her with the infant boy while taking his healthy twin back to Australia.

Mr Farnell told Australia's '60 Minutes' that he and his wife had to return to Australia with the other child because they were worried Ms Pattaramon would insist on keeping her too.

Referring to his 22 child sex convictions, Mr Farrnell said that he is no longer a danger to children.

"I hang my head in shame for that," he said. "And I am deeply regretful of that. And I am so sorry to those people."

He added: "Everybody hates sex offenders. They're the lowest form, not even worthy of breathing. I know that.

"That's why I've tried so hard for my children and wanted to be a good father, so that at least the people I know can see that I am a good person now."

The show's producers has said that the couple were not paid for the interview, with a donation being made instead to the Hands Across the Water charity.

The case has focused global attention on the largely unregulated surrogacy industry in Thailand.