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Parents let teenage daughter sleep with 12-year-old boy
Kiran Randhawa and Robert Mendick13.02.09
The parents of Chantelle Steadman allowed the teenager to share a bedroom with her then 12-year-old lover, a family friend claimed today.
Chantelle was 14 when she became pregnant by Alfie Patten, who although now 13 is barely four foot and looks about eight.
She gave birth to Maisie Roxanne on Monday, leaving hospital yesterday to return to her council home on an Eastbourne estate, shared with her parents and four younger siblings.
Neighbours claimed the children often "ran wild" in the street while family friend, Sean Thomas, branded Chantelle's parents Steve and Penny Steadman, who live on benefits, as "irresponsible".
Mr Thomas, 20, who lives opposite the Steadmans, said today: "There were at least three other boys who have been allowed to stay with Chantelle.
"When she was first pregnant I know there was some confusion over who the father might be. There is still talk of doing a DNA test to make sure.
"Chantelle is treated like an adult, allowed to do whatever she wants. She is not a young innocent girl who got pregnant with the first boy who came along."
Mr Thomas claimed Mr Steadman was once investigated by police after disappearing, taking one of his sons with him.
Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "Mr Steadman was wanted by the police and when they came to arrest him, he ran away. They let the kids run wild on the street until all hours, they have no control over them."
Alfie and Chantelle met when both lived in nearby Hailsham but when the Steadmans moved, Alfie was a frequent visitor, and allowed to stay overnight.
It was suggested today Chantelle, who was on the pill but forgot to take it, got pregnant after one night of unprotected sex with Alfie, who was 12 at the time.
Chantelle discovered she was having a baby 12 weeks later after a trip to the doctor's but kept it secret from mother Penny, 38, for six weeks.
They decided against an abortion and on Monday - after a five-hour labour - Chantelle, now 15, gave birth to Maisie Roxanne, who weighed in at 7lb 3oz at Eastbourne Hospital.
In an interview with The Sun newspaper today, Alfie promises to be a good father but admits he can't really afford the child's upkeep - he doesn't even get pocket money.
He said: "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. When my mum found out, I thought I was going to get in trouble."
Chantelle and Maisie are living with her parents. Alfie lives not far away with his mother Nicola, 43, but spends much of his time at the Steadmans.
He even keeps a school uniform there so he can go straight to school.
His father Dennis, 45, who works for a vehicle recovery firm and has had nine children himself, admitted Alfie did not really fathom the enormity of what has just happened but said he was doing the best by his daughter, spending time at the hospital and taking his turn in feeding Maisie from a bottle.
"He could have shrugged his shoulders and sat at home on his Playstation. But he has been at the hospital every day," said Mr Patten.
"Everyone is telling him things and it's going round in his head. It hasn't really dawned on him. He hasn't got a clue of what the baby means and can't explain how he feels. All he knows is mum and dad will help.
"When you mention money his eyes look away. And she is reliant on her mum and dad. It's crazy. They have no idea what lies ahead."
He said his son was a typical 13-year-old, who enjoys computer games, boxing and supports Manchester United.
Chantelle told The Sun she was nervous going into labour but excited now her daughter had been born.
"I have started a church course and I am going to do work experience helping other young mums. I'll be a great mum and Alfie will be a great dad."
The girl had tried to keep the pregnancy from her mother by wearing baggy T-shirts but was confronted when she noticed her daughter putting on weight after about 18 weeks.
Mrs Steadman has accepted life will be difficult for the teenagers.
"I told her [Chantelle] it was lovely to have the baby but I wish it was in different circumstances.
"We have five children already so it's a big financial responsibility. But we are a family and will pull together and get through. She's my daughter. I love her and she will want for nothing."
The omens for Chantelle and Alfie in the long term do not appear good.
Britain's youngest known father is Sean Stewart, who was 12 at the time his 16-year-old girlfriend Emma Webster gave birth to their son in 1998. They broke up six months later.
Reader views (22)
all of this is just disgusting
- Jared, usa
In response to Pasqualina about doubting a twelve year old knowing where babies came from. Seeing as he is in secondary school, I highly doubt he does not know the consequences of sex. You'd be surprised how much even primary school kids know, the problem is not teenagers not knowing the ins and outs of sex, many know far more than they would have their parents know, many just choose to do it anyway.
But a 12 year old having sex, especially with an older girl is disgusting and the girl and her parents should be ashamed of themselves.
- Hayley, London
I am 15 and would never dream of going out with a 12 yr old, let alone having sex with them! I feel so sorry for there poor little baby, I just hope she doesnt make the same mistake her parents did.
I agree with many other that chantelles mum and dad are 99% to blame , letting him sleep round and frankly not caring about the childrens future. Just minging! :@!
- Janey, Newcastle
A twelve year old having sex? That's disgusting!
- Lis, USA
Arresting the couple will not do any good. Government should focus on imparting sex education in more effective way. In this era, where a 7 year old kid has full access of porn sites, cd's etc. there is no way one can stop them to have sex, but what can be done is to make them aware of the consequenes of unsafe sex.
- Amit Goyal, Oxford, UK
This is ridiculous. I doubt a 12-year-old would have even known how babies were made. I agree with Michael from Leeds, it is the girl's fault. She's not a young, innocent girl; she's slept with many other guys.
I blame the parents.
And I feel sorry young Maisie; she's destined to lead a horrible and unsuccessful life.
- Pasqualina, Australia
Thanks to 20 years of liberal 'dont smack the kids treat them as adults' doctorin we end up with parents who have no morals, kids who are feral and have no idea what discipline and respect are. Unless discipline and respect are put back on the school cirriculum this country will slip deeper and deeper into the horrible embarassment it is becoming. I am a proud Englishman and my own kids know respect and manners but sadly even France is appealling compared with the cess pool we are allowing to grow in this country.Bring back politians with bo**ocks and pass laws that will hurt for a while but will stop the rot.
- Neil, Oxford Uk
Both the parents of this 15 yr old girl should be arrested and charged if it is found that they aided in this fiasco by letting the children sleep together.
What on earth are these people thinking of?
It is a clear case of child neglect/abuse in my eyes and I reckon in the eyes of the general public as well. Will the p;olice get involved, I suspect not because they would rather be sat on their backsides shuffling paper about than getting out there and doingb a bit of detective work to aportion blame in this case.
- Pete Stubbs, Wigan, UK
And if the boy had been fifteen ............ and the girl twelve ......... Where would the boy be now? He would be in custody.
The girl is responsible, you feminist freaks.
- Michael, Leeds
The parents on both sides have and are committing child abuse by letting this happen. Obviously, the parents do not want to be bothered with their children, that is why they let them run wild and sleep over girlfriends and boyfriends' houses. The parents need help emotionally and if they do not want to care for, and set limits for their children, the children should be taken away. Sad and sick.
- Katheryn Wilde, Point Pleasant, USA
Unfortunately this is a sign of the society we live in. Over the last two decades certain members of our community have become feral, with no standards and morals. It is no wonder that their children carry on in this way, having no decent role models and their parents been totally without any self control.
Until society as a whole is prepared to say we do not condone or want this kind of behaviour any more and the politicians of all parties stop pussy footing around and stand up for the average man and take on the pc brigade, I am afraid this kind of behaviour will continue to make the headlines.
Lets save our community and country, lets go back to our British values, buy British where possible and rejoice in our history.
Come on evreybody lets put the Great back into Britain.
- Neil Mills, Kidderminster
I know a parent who lets her 12 year old stay at boy's house who is 15. the dad said to me very proudly his 12 year old is in love . how disgusting. i blame parents for being permissive
- Bev, essex
This shows the double standards social workers use.
A Norfolk couple falsely accused of breaking their child's bones have three children taken away and adopted, yet nothing happens to a Sussex couple who allow their daughters hymen to be broken.
- Ian Baldwin, Hingham Norfolk
THis is disgusting. None fo them know hopw serious this is for them and for the new baby. THis is why Britain is in such a bad state, it is sick. 12 years old? He's thinking abiut being a good father? What the hell is going on in this society. These children sound as though they can't even care for themselves.. well .. they can't. They can;t care for a baby. And their parents soudn like they can;t look after anyone either. It is a total mess and a disaster for everyone.
- Andrew Lindsay, Warwick
King Henry Vll was born to a mother of 12 years of age, and turned out all right by the standards of the times (his mother outlived him, and is I believe being considered for sainthood - quite a turn-up late in one's career).
Statisticians have learnt to recognise a blip in age -of -motherhood figures caused in 'traditional' societies by mature women passing off their unforeseen grandchildren as their own (eg Jack Nicholson the actor was quite old before he learned that his 'sister' was his mum).
Obviously this is a situation much better avoided, and there seems evidence of criminal offences of neglect having been committed, but IF (and it seems to be a big one, unfortunately) the support is there, this could turn out reasonably well.
- Mdj E10, london, uk
When can we expect the first embryo to give birth to an embryo? Utterly disgusting!!
- Judith C, London, England
I feel sorry for the children too as they have not been guided properly - especially the boy who looks so much like my own son who's nearly 12.
It's given me a kick up the backside - I know there has been no form of sex education lessons at school and so I know I need to sit down with my son and make sure he knows the basics. He's not far off the age Alfie was when he had sex with this girl (who seems a lot more mature - an odd relationship).
- Lottie, Worcestershire
And I thought the TV program 'Shameless' was fiction!
- John, London
It's actually the children I pity, what sort of a start in life is this... A father at 13, a mother at 15..
- Jonathan, London
another drain on the taxpayers. what a mess britain,s in.
- George, france
Good God Almighty, what type of parents have these two kids got? They never stood a chance by the sound of this article, and the cycle will continue onto the third generation with baby Maisie.
It will take a very BRAVE political party to announce a drastic reform of the benefits system, which might go half way to ending the abuse that has been allowed to flourish under the present system.
Taxpayers are sick to death of the reward these feckless people get, whilst we are working all the hours god sends to enable us to pay tax for them to go and get their handouts.
- Denise, London UK
God, i hope they pull through!
- Ali, Swansea,Wales,UK
