The baby is like his little brother

NEWS that a 13-year-old boy has allegedly fathered a baby has shocked the country.

The boy, whose childlike looks make him seem more like an eight year old, has admitted having unprotected sex with the baby’s mother, who is only 15 herself.

And the fact that several other teenagers have said they could in fact be the baby’s father has added to the outrage.

Janice Barker asked shoppers outside Oldham market what they make of the case.

GREAT-GRANDFATHER Geoff Roebuck (69), from Ashton, said: “The baby should be taken into care because of his family background. The boy should be admonished in some way or other.

“How can he be a suitable father figure, he can’t contribute to his upbringing financially or in any other way?

“It is hard work bringing up a child. All this media business is about money and getting Max Clifford to be their agent.”

Terry Evans (64), from Hollinwood, said: “We will all have to pay for this child for the rest of his life. There are even doubts about whether he was the father.

“The parents should have something to say about this, but I don’t know what the solution is.”

His friend Peter Brooks, also 64, from Oldham said: “I think this gets too much media publicity. Youngsters think you can’t do anything to them and they have got no chance with their life.

“Respect has to be earned, schools don’t want to know and there is a lack of parental control.”

Julie North (33), from Oldham, said she was shocked by the news, and added: “He only looks about seven.

“I have a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old daughter and they got sex education in school. I talk to them about that and about drugs and so on. They feel they can talk to me or their dad.

“Perhaps that is what was missing in his family.”

Father-to-be Scott Greenwood (28), from Oldham, and his pregnant partner Naomi Ashmore (24) said it was time for the boy’s parents to get more involved.

Naomi added: “Why was he looking at a 15-year-old girl in the first place?

“He is pictured holding his baby and it doesn’t look right, it’s like his little brother. He doesn’t even look 13.”

Catherine Hufton (53), from Oldham, and her daughter, Victoria (22), disagreed about what part schools had to play in sex education.

Catherine said: “It is sad. But you can’t put all the blame on schools. Children are going to experiment and it is up to parents to teach them right from wrong and about contraception.

“I got books for my daughters. I would say this is missing from that family.”

But Victoria said: “I had no sex education in school and I think they should do. You need to create an environment where children think it is safe to talk to an adult.”

Catherine added: “He is not old enough to be a father. In a couple of years he won’t want to know when he wants to go out with his friends.”

Mark Charlesworth (43), from St Mary’s, who has worked as a school caretaker for 20 years, said: “Youngsters are not as innocent now as we were. Girls are different now, girls and lads didn’t used to mix. Now girls are very savvy and know how to get boys to do things for them.

“People don’t want to take their childhood away, but this is the price we pay.”

Grandmothers Pauline Royds and Hilda Conway said the news was “unbelievable” and Pauline added: “I was shocked. I don’t think he has enough sense to be the baby’s father.”

Hilda, from Moorside, said: “I have a grandson and I would be appalled if anything like this happened, but he plays football and spends time on his Wii. This boy should be doing that as well.

“The boy doesn’t even know what ‘financially’ means. The girl is only 15 — I’m sure she should have had more sense.”