Beth Fernley, 26, has admitted forging paternity test results to convince her former partner, 27‑year‑old Ryan Hampson, that he was the father of her child. According to Liverpool Crown Court, Fernley told Hampson in April 2019 that she was pregnant and uncertain of the baby’s paternity. She allegedly requested £300 from him to pay for DNA testing and later sent screenshots purportedly from EasyDNA showing a 99.9 percent probability that he was the father. Prosecutor Gareth Roberts revealed those documents were subsequently discovered to be counterfeit.
Following receipt of the fake results, Hampson resumed his four‑year relationship with Fernley, purchased items for the expected baby, attended the birth, was named on the birth certificate, and even bought a house with her in 2020. When Fernley later sent a letter claiming the testing company had made an error, Hampson contacted EasyDNA directly—and learned they had no record of the tests. He reported the matter to police in July 2022, leading to Fernley’s arrest.
At sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary described the offence as “particularly dreadful” with “a profound effect on many people,” yet suspended Fernley’s 13‑month sentence for 18 months. He remarked that Fernley “could not have complained” had he imposed immediate custody. Alongside the suspended term, Fernley must complete ten days of rehabilitation activity, 200 hours of unpaid work, and pay £300 in compensation plus a statutory surcharge.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Hampson spoke of “profound grief, confusion and heartbreak” upon discovering the child was not his, saying, “My entire world fell apart,” and that he still experiences “waves of grief and sadness.