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Decorated PC and special constable are "over the moon"
Gay police, Banksy style
"First gay couple to father a baby" are policemen
Today's Sun reveals that two policemen "are believed to be Britain's first gay couple to father a baby." Lorna Bradley acted as surrogate mother for her brother Steven Ponder, a special constable, and his partner PC Ivan Sigston, handing over the baby just 48 hours after its birth.
Bradley, a mother of three, did not hesitate to help the two men when they revealed that they wanted a family, with 43-year old Sigston, a dog handler and former soldier to provide the sperm. Her husband Darren gave his blessing, and Sigston and Ponder, 28, were present when she gave birth to William Campbell Ponder-Sigston at her terraced home in Worthing, Sussex.
Sigston, who served with the Royal Tank Regiment in Northern Ireland and received a Royal Humane Society award for saving the the life of a stab victim, has been granted paternity leave by Hampshire police, but the birth certificate was left blank on the 'father' section, meaning that he and Ponder must adopt the child. Surrogacy UK told the Sun: "We wish this couple all the best - but under the law it is not a proper surrogacy arrangement. That involves the couple applying for a parental order within six months of the child's birth. At present, same-sex couples cannot apply for a parental order but have to go through the adoption process. As only Lorna's name is on the birth certificate, she is William's legal guardian."
A friend of the couple, who the Sun notes "live in a detached £300,000 bungalow" said: "They are over the moon - and they cannot thank Lorna enough for what she has done. They have decorated a room at their home in blue as a nursery and take William out with the dogs daily. Ivan and Steven have talked about wanting to raise a family like any other couple since they have been together - and incredibly Steven's sister Lorna offered. I am sure many people will not approve but this was an arrangement between three consenting adults - and William will be brought up with much love."
