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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Danya Bazaraa

Man dubbed 'Britain's youngest dad' at 13 smashes cars in rampage a decade later

A man dubbed 'Britain's youngest dad' aged 13 smashed up cars and property on a drunken rampage 10 years on.

Alfie Patten made headlines after believing he'd got his 15-year-old girlfriend pregnant in 2009 - but DNA tests later showed he was not the father.

Patten, now 23, was convicted of criminal damage but narrowly avoided jail as he appeared at Lewes Crown Court today.

Prosecuting, Hannah Hurley said officers intervened after Patten kicked a van, damaged a Skoda and broke a fence while intoxicated.

She said: "He was drunk, swearing and being aggressive.

"He was running up and down the road. He was seen arguing with vehicles and shouting at them."

DNA tests later proved Patten was not the father (The People)

Witnesses saw Patten staggering along a street and he was later arrested, the Daily Star reports.

The court heard Pattern is a jobless alcoholic who lives at home with his mum and has a history of criminal offences, including a 24-month suspended prison sentence.

Patten had five convictions for 12 offences and drank alcohol most days, the court heard.

Defending, Ms Fatania said: "This is a young man who is aware of the concerns that are at play here.

"He wants to improve to become normal and seek peace rather than continue the destructive, chaotic behaviour that is deeply dangerous to his health."

Patten avoided jail and was given a suspended sentence (Brighton Pictures)

Judge Janet Waddicor warned Patten he should have faced a jail sentence for breaching a suspended sentence but let him off because prison was not the right place for him.

She said: "Your GP thinks prison would be a very bad outcome for you and I agree.

"You are drinking dangerously high levels of alcohol.

"Anyone can see you are a slightly built young man and the amounts you are drinking must be causing so much damage to you and to your liver.

"There aren’t many people in your position who would have the family support you have.

"Most would have washed their hands of you."

Judge Waddicor imposed a separate suspended sentence of one month and one week for the criminal damage offences and extended a rehabilitation order already in place.

She warned: "You’ve got a tough journey ahead of you but you cannot keep offending while drunk."

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