A woman who forged paternity test results and lied to her ex-partner about being the father of her child has been given a suspended prison sentence. Beth Fernley, 26, told Ryan Hampson in April 2019 she was pregnant and unsure who the father was, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Gareth Roberts said Fernley asked Mr Hampson for £300 towards a DNA test and sent him screenshots she claimed were from EasyDNA, showing a 99.9% probability he was the father. The documents were later confirmed as forged. Fernley, of Wroxham Road in Warrington, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
Judge Andrew Menary described the offence as “particularly dreadful” with a profound effect on Mr Hampson and his family. He noted Fernley continued to deny the lie when police became involved, calling it a “perpetuation of sinister dishonesty”. He gave her a 13-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, saying she could not have complained if sent immediately to prison.
The court heard Mr Hampson bought items for the unborn baby and resumed a relationship with Fernley after seeing the forged results. He was at the birth, named on the birth certificate, and bought a house with her in 2020. Fernley later forged another letter claiming the company had made a mistake. Mr Hampson contacted the firm, which had no record of the tests, and reported the matter to police in July 2022.
In a statement, Mr Hampson said he felt “profound grief, confusion and heartbreak” after learning the child he had bonded with was not his. Fernley was ordered to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activity, 200 hours of unpaid work, and pay £300 compensation plus a statutory surcharge.
