Kids with kids: Where are Britain’s youngest parents now

When the story of then 13-year-old Alfie Patten went viral, then Prime Minister David Cameron stated, “I just thought how worrying that in Britain today children are having children.”

Even before reaching the legal age to buy party poppers, Alfie became the youngest ever father in Britain. It was later determined that another young man, slightly older than Alfie was the real father, and this incident ruined Alfie’s life completely. Even today, he’s facing plenty of issues, including alcohol abuse and problems with the law.

However, the story of Alfie and the girl who gave birth to his alleged daughter isn’t the only one of youngsters becoming parents in Britain.

Tressa Middleton, the youngest mother in Britain, who gave birth to her first daughter at the age of just twelve, recently announced she’s expecting her fourth child.

The now 29-year-old mom shared the news of her pregnancy on the social media by posting a photo of the ultrasound. She welcomed her latest child 17 years after she made headlines for being the youngest mother Britain has ever seen.

“So guys, it’s another girl!!” she captioned her post. “Four girls, I can’t believe it. Good luck, Darren.”

Former Britain’s youngest mum Tressa Middleton with her daughter in 2006

Tressa’s story is a heartbreaking one. Her parents were alcohol and drug abusers and her childhood was a tough one, to say the least.

She fell pregnant at the age of 11 and gave birth at 12, shortly after finishing elementary school.

Following the birth of her daughter, the young mom battled depression and started using drugs and alcohol, which resulted in losing the custody of her girl. The baby was put up for adoption.

The father’s identity was kept a secret until 2009, or three years after Tressa gave birth.

At one point, she broke down and confessed that her daughter was her brother’s who s******y assaulted her from the time she was seven years old.

The 34-year-old Jason was found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison in 2009.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2011, Tressa confessed that “sometimes he blackmailed or bribed me to do it.

“He’d say he was going to tell Mum. He’d give me things – joints, drink, cigarettes. Or he’d threaten me.”

Since then, Tressa has battled to put her life back on track and overcome her addictions, which cost her around £400 every day.

Up until 2011, Tressa was considered to be the youngest mother in Britain. But then, the news of an 11-year-old girl who gave birth filled the headlines.

The girl’s identity was kept a secret, but what is known, as per The Sun, that she was s******y assaulted and her family was unaware of that.

“It has come as a big shock,” a family friend said in 2021 to The Sun.

“She’s now being surrounded by expert help. The main thing is that she and the baby are OK.”

Prior to the case of Alfie, it was Sean Stewart who was thought to be the youngest father in Britain.

In 1998, Sean’s next door neighbor, Emma Webster, 15, got pregnant with his child. At the time, Sean was 11 years old.

A month after turning twelve, Sean’s son, Ben Louis, was born and Sean was granted a day off from school.

Sean and Emma were neighbors and according to her, he would climb to her rooftop to see her.

“He said he was 12, I’d never have gone out with him if I’d known he was 11,” she told The Sunday Telegraph at the time.

Shortly after giving birth, Emma married someone else and moved to a £200,000 house, while Sean continued attending his local school before leaving Bedfordshire in his early adolescence.

According to The Daily Mail, in the early 2000s, he was incarcerated for seven months for stealing.

Speaking of him, Emma said at the time, “I don’t know where Sean is or what he is doing. I don’t want to talk about it anymore because I don’t think it helps Ben.”

No matter how unbelievable these stories sound, the one that is the most shocking of all is that of Lina Medina from Peru who gave birth at the age of just five. Today, Medina is 89 years old.

When she gave birth in 1939, she became the youngest mother in the history. Allegedly, she suffered from “precocious puberty,” a disorder that causes puberty to start earlier than usual.

Teenage couples of a comparable age who have consensual s*x in the UK and are under the legal consent age of 16 are unlikely to face legal action.

But all s****l activity with children under the age of 13 is illegal.

My Wife Set Hidden Cameras at Her Ex-husband’s Home While He Was Away — I Told Him Everything & He Came up with a Plan

When Denise’s jealousy over her ex-husband’s new relationship drives her to plant hidden cameras in his home, she sets off a chain of events that forces her to confront her unresolved feelings. As secrets unravel, Denise must choose between holding on to the past or rebuilding her future.

Blended families come with their own unique challenges, but I never expected mine to include hidden cameras, confrontations, and a battle of egos.

A man looking out a window | Source: Midjourney

A man looking out a window | Source: Midjourney

I married Denise two years ago, and while I knew her past was complicated, I didn’t realize how much it would spill into our lives. Denise had a six-year-old daughter, Shelby, with her ex-husband, Elon, and their co-parenting arrangement was… tense.

Denise was overbearing when it came to our stepdaughter, and her fixation on Elon’s life didn’t help anything.

Elon, to his credit, hadn’t dated anyone seriously since their divorce. Denise often said that was better.

A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney

A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney

“There will be no witchy stepmom messing up my daughter’s life, Levi,” she said to me one night over a glass of wine and salads. “Shelby’s life will be perfect, and I’ll be the only mother she ever knows.”

But when Elon introduced his new girlfriend, Lena, into the picture, Denise’s carefully constructed narrative crumbled before her eyes.

Food on a table | Source: Midjourney

Food on a table | Source: Midjourney

“And you know what?! Levi! She’s met Shelby already!” she fumed over dinner. “What kind of woman just waltzes into a child’s life like that? He should’ve asked me first!”

She slammed the spoon so hard into the pasta dish that specks of food went everywhere.

I kept quiet, unwilling to fuel the fire. Elon didn’t owe Denise updates about his personal life anymore. But Denise wasn’t one to let things go. She demanded to meet Lena, claiming that it was her right as a mother to “test” anyone around her daughter.

An angry woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

An angry woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

“Seriously, Levi. I need to know if this woman is good for my child or if she’ll just cause Shelby to go to therapy.”

A few weeks later, I was using Denise’s tablet when a message from her mom caught my attention.

Have you checked the feed yet, Denise? What’s Lena like?

“What the hell? Oh, Denise, what have you done?” I muttered.

The feed?

A tablet on a table | Source: Midjourney

A tablet on a table | Source: Midjourney

My stomach tightened as I scrolled through their messages, piecing it all together. Denise had used the spare key Elon had given her to install hidden cameras in his house.

“This key is just in case Shelby leaves something behind when she’s with you, Denise,” Elon had said over family brunch one weekend. “I know it’s weird for you, given our history, but I’d rather know that you can get to her things if I’m not there.”

I’ll admit, I respected the heck out of him for that. Honestly, which man would just give his ex-wife keys to his house?

Keys on a table | Source: Midjourney

Keys on a table | Source: Midjourney

But this… what Denise had done… it actually repulsed me.

When I confronted her, she didn’t even look guilty.

“It’s not what you think, babe,” she said defensively. “I just need to make sure Lena’s treating my baby girl right.”

“By spying on them? In their private time?” I shot back, almost dropping my cup of coffee. “This isn’t normal, Denise. It’s invasive, and I’m pretty sure it breaks a few laws, too.”

A cup of coffee on a table | Source: Midjourney

A cup of coffee on a table | Source: Midjourney

She crossed her arms, her expression icy.

“You don’t understand. And you don’t care about Shelby the way I do. I guess you don’t… she’s not your child anyway.”

I was furious. Sure, Shelby may not have been my biological child, but she was as good as! This wasn’t about protecting her. This was about Denise’s obsession with control. And her jealousy over Elon moving on with his life.

A frowning man | Source: Midjourney

A frowning man | Source: Midjourney

I couldn’t let it slide. I had to be the bigger person. I had to do the right thing.

When I told Elon about the cameras, he was furious.

His jaw clenched as he paced the room, muttering under his breath. But then he stopped, his expression softened into something I didn’t expect: a sly grin.

“Thanks, Lev,” he said. “I appreciate the honesty and the heads up. But now it’s my turn to ‘test’ Denise.”

An upset man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

An upset man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

“Wait,” I muttered. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing hectic,” he replied sheepishly. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you know everything.”

He laid out his plan.

He was going to pretend he didn’t know about the cameras and act perfectly polite and loving with Lena. So much so that it would drive Denise up the wall. Then, he was going to set the stage for a confrontation.

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

Look, I wasn’t sure that it was the best idea, but even I had to admit that Denise needed to learn that her actions had consequences.

Elon knew Denise would watch every second of the footage. It was something that I believed too, even though the thought of it made me uneasy.

What was Denise still holding onto? Was this really about Shelby? Or was this about Elon finding love with someone else? I didn’t know what to think.

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

But Elon was absolutely right. Denise did watch every moment. He and Lena played their parts perfectly, making casual but affectionate comments to each other often. One offhand remark from Lena, about Elon loving her cooking, sent Denise spiraling.

“She thinks she’s so much better than me, Levi!” Denise ranted that night, pacing the living room. “As if her cooking could ever compare to mine. Seriously, what is this man thinking? She probably only wants his money… and the house.”

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

The next day, Denise announced that she was hosting a family dinner. She spent hours in the kitchen, preparing an elaborate spread.

Elon, of course, thought that it was the perfect chance to expose her publicly.

“Of course, I’ll be there!” he said into the phone. “Anything to make Shelby happy! And the kiddo loves having us all together.”

A woman busy in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A woman busy in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney

The dinner started off tense but polite. Denise was on edge, glaring at Lena whenever she laughed at one of Elon’s jokes. Elon, meanwhile, played the perfect guest, complimenting the food and chatting warmly.

But Denise couldn’t hold back for long. I knew she was biting her tongue. And I also knew that she was going to explode.

As dessert was served, a large cheesecake, Denise’s act began to crumble.

“So… now you like my cooking? It’s not so bad after all, is it?”

A cheesecake on a dinner table | Source: Midjourney

A cheesecake on a dinner table | Source: Midjourney

Elon set down his fork slowly, his expression calm but cold.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“You know what I mean!” she snapped loudly, throwing her napkin to the floor. “I’m talking about your girlfriend supposedly cooking better than me. You love her cooking, don’t you?”

He leaned back, his gaze piercing.

“What are you getting this from, Denise? When have I ever said such a thing to your face? When have I ever told anyone that?”

A crumpled napkin thrown onto the floor | Source: Midjourney

A crumpled napkin thrown onto the floor | Source: Midjourney

Checkmate, I thought, taking a sip of my wine.

Denise faltered, her composure slipping.

“Of course, you said it… to your girlfriend,” she stammered. “I overheard it… you must have been here. How else would I hear it?”

Elon stood, his tone suddenly ice cold.

A glass of wine on a table | Source: Midjourney

A glass of wine on a table | Source: Midjourney

“I know about the cameras, Denise,” he said evenly. “I know what you did.”

The room went silent.

“That’s low. Real low. Do you realize that I could take you to court for this? Spying on me and my personal life? But I won’t. For the sake of our daughter, I’ll let this go, but let me be clear, this is your first and only warning. Do not interfere in my life again. Don’t even think about it. I have proof, and I won’t hesitate next time.”

Denise’s face went pale. She looked to me for support, but I shook my head.

An angry man sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

An angry man sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

“Yes, it was me. I told him about the cameras,” I said firmly. “I couldn’t hide something like that. It’s not just your reputation at stake but mine as well. And honestly, in this situation, I’m on his side.”

That was the final blow. Denise broke down into tears, apologizing to us all profusely.

Later that night, when Shelby was in bed and Denise and I were sitting on the porch outside, she admitted her true feelings. She admitted that she’d been struggling to cope with the divorce on a whole and that while she didn’t have any feelings for Elon, she was still jealous over Elon’s new relationship.

An upset woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

“I need you to consider therapy, love,” I said. “There’s a lot of unresolved feelings here. And they’re going to poison our marriage, your relationship with Elon, and eventually… your relationship with Shelby.”

“But… I don’t know, Levi,” she muttered.

“Denise… if you don’t try, I don’t know if we’ll survive.”

For once, Denise listened.

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

It had been months since that dinner, the night everything unraveled.

Since then, Denise had started her therapy, and while the progress wasn’t instant, I could see a change in her. She wasn’t as quick to lash out, and she seemed more focused on being present for our family.

One afternoon, she approached me in the kitchen, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

A woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

“Elon asked me to meet him for coffee,” she said hesitantly.

I raised an eyebrow while chopping the vegetables for our noodles.

“I think I need to do this,” she said. “For closure.”

Denise sat across Elon, a steaming cup of tea between them. She had rehearsed this moment in her head for days, but now, the words caught in her throat.

Food in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney

Food in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney

Elon waited patiently, his expression unreadable.

“I owe you an apology,” she said quietly.

“For what, specifically?”

“For everything. For invading your privacy, for trying to control your life, for… not letting go.”

Elon leaned back in his chair, studying her.

A man sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney

“Why now?”

“Therapy has made me realize a lot of things, things I wasn’t ready to face before. I was angry about the divorce, and about how easily you seemed to move on… But then, how could I feel that way when I was already married to Levi? Instead of dealing with those feelings, I buried them under my need to be… right.”

“You always did hate losing,” he said.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

A smiling woman sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney

“That hasn’t changed, but I’ve realized that being right isn’t the same as being happy. And I wasn’t fair to you. Or Lena. Or Levi. Or Shelby.”

“I won’t lie, Denise,” Elon said. “What you did… it crossed a line. But I do appreciate you owning up to it. Now, for the love of all that’s good, live your life, Denise. Have some fun with Levi. Make memories. New memories. Don’t worry about the past, we’re good. And we can co-parent our child in peace.”

Denise laughed softly.

“That’s the last time I’ll actually accept your instructions,” she said.

A smiling little girl sitting on a swing | Source: Midjourney

A smiling little girl sitting on a swing | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |

When Hayley’s ex’s mom invites her to design a wedding dress for her big day, it seems strange, but nothing prepares Hayley for the truth. What follows is a confession, a second chance at love, and a surprise she never saw coming. Sometimes, life gives you the most unexpected twists…

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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