Couple must pay maintenance to surrogate who kept their baby

A couple have been told to pay £568-a-month child maintenance to a surrogate mother who refused to hand over their baby.

Mr and Mrs W, who had suffered six late miscarriages including four sets of twins, used a surrogacy website where they found a willing single mother on benefits.

They made an informal deal and paid her £10,000 in expenses but halfway through the pregnancy she changed her mind. A judge ordered that the woman, the biological mother, could keep the baby - now eight months old.

The father, a chef who must remain anonymous, said the Child Support Agency maintenance ruling "added insult to injury".

He said: "She can't say, 'I'll keep your child and now you must pay for it'. She has taken our baby and now she is taking our money."

He said he did not believe Miss N ever planned to give the baby away, adding: "I think this was about an income. I've written to my MP for a change in the law and we'll appeal."