UK paternity fraud victims push for birth-time DNA testing as cases reveal emotional toll

LONDON — A growing number of men in the United Kingdom say they were blindsided by paternity fraud, a deception that results in misidentification of a child’s biological father. While not a crime in England and Wales, paternity fraud is treated as civil fraud, with lasting emotional and financial consequences for fathers, mothers and extended families.

Michael Thompson, 46, of Warrington, says the day his son was born in 2018 felt like the happiest day of his life, but suspicions about paternity grew over time. By four or five months the child bore more resemblance to the mother than to him, he said. He kept a secret DNA test, which in April 2020 showed he was not the biological father. He cut contact with the child and later described ongoing flashbacks and heartbreak. Thompson has since helped found Paternity Fraud UK to support others affected by the deception.

Ryan Hampson, 26, from Warrington, was initially overjoyed when his ex-girlfriend announced a pregnancy and provided the DNA results indicating a 99.9 percent probability he was the father. It later emerged that the child was not biologically his. In April 2025, his former partner, Beth Fernley, admitted fraud by false representation. In sentencing, the court suspended 13 months for 18 months and ordered rehabilitation, 200 hours of unpaid work, 10 days of activity, and £300 in compensation plus a statutory charge. Hampson’s mother, Claire, said the ordeal was the most horrendous thing they had been through, and that the family had to grieve a child who was living. Fernley later introduced Ryan to the child’s purported biological father and then told him she no longer saw him as the father.

Claire Hampson said Ryan’s bond with the child had to be broken; the DNA firm had no record of Ryan. It later emerged that the child belonged to another man. In April, Fernley admitted fraud by false representation; she avoided a jail sentence but received a suspended 13 months plus penalties. Cheshire Police DC Josh Darby said the deceit had lasting emotional consequences for both the victims and their families. The case highlighted that paternity fraud is not currently a crime in England and Wales, but that providing false declarations to a registrar is an offense. A Home Office spokesperson said there are no plans to mandate pre birth DNA testing, though fraud involving birth registrations remains criminal.

Now Thompson and Hampson campaign for legal reform, calling for compulsory DNA testing at birth. They plan to meet Sarah Hall, the Labour MP for Warrington South, to discuss the issue. They argue that requiring testing could deter deception and reduce harm to families, including children who grow up thinking a parent is their father. Warwick University’s 2018 study put the rate at about three percent of men affected, but advocates say the true number may be higher, accounting for stigma and unreported cases. They contend that paternity fraud should be treated as a form of abuse with appropriate safeguards for families.

Experts say the issue sits at the intersection of family law and social policy. While the law currently addresses false statements on birth certificates as a civil matter, advocates warn that the emotional and financial tolls extend beyond the accused parent to the child and the wider family network. The Home Office says that fraud is a terrible crime and those who provide false information on a birth certificate face criminal conviction, but the current framework does not require pre birth DNA testing.

As more victims come forward, the debate over how to balance protections for families with civil legal processes is likely to intensify. Thompson and Hampson say the goal is to prevent future heartache and to ensure that families have clearer remedies when deception occurs. For now, they warn that many victims may suffer in silence, underscoring the need for awareness, support networks and potentially policy changes that could shield families from the kind of pain that has haunted them for years.