Father left heartbroken after falling victim to a cruel deception, led to believe he fathered someone else's child.

A man has been left "devastated" after being conned into thinking a baby was his, only to later find out the truth. Ryan Hampson, from Warrington, Cheshire, thought he was the father of his ex-partner Beth Fernley's child after she forged paternity test results. Hampson, whose name was on the child's birth certificate, said he was left "grieving over a child that was still alive" when he discovered the deception. Fernley was sentenced to 13 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, after admitting fraud by false representation. Hampson has called for mandatory paternity testing before birth registration, but the Home Office has stated that there are no plans to change the law. Despite the devastating experience, Hampson said he is working to rebuild his life with the support of his family. identity, paternity, fraud, deception, law