When Chelsea Miller welcomed her baby boy Louie into the world, she never expected that she’d soon find herself in the middle of a disturbing fraud case involving DNA tampering, fake samples, and a betrayal of trust.
But that’s exactly what unfolded after her child’s father tried to escape his parental responsibilities—and got a lab worker involved to help him do it.
A Scheme to Dodge Fatherhood
The drama began just three days after Louie’s birth in March 2022, when Chelsea’s then-partner, Sheldon Brown, abruptly walked out.
Soon after, Brown denied he was Louie’s father altogether.
That denial wasn’t just verbal—he backed it up with what appeared to be legitimate DNA test results showing no biological connection.
But as Chelsea told it, “I always knew who the father of my child was.”
Still, the shocking results made her start to doubt herself. “I was left questioning everything,” she admitted.
The Fake DNA Test and the Man Behind It
As it turns out, those results were far from honest.
Brown, a 26-year-old HGV driver from Hampton in southwest London, had reportedly turned to his aunt for help.
She, in turn, reached out to Robert Patel—a lab worker who crossed every ethical line imaginable.
Patel, 38, went as far as submitting his own saliva sample in place of Brown’s, forging a doctor’s signature, and using an official stamp to make the results look real.
The scam was meant to fool the Child Maintenance Service and save Brown an estimated £94,000 in child support payments.
A Grandmother’s DNA Confirms the Truth
Chelsea wasn’t ready to give up, though.
Determined to get clarity, she persuaded Brown’s mother, Katie, to submit her own DNA for comparison through a private lab.
That test changed everything—it confirmed that Katie was indeed Louie’s grandmother, and by extension, proved Brown was the child’s biological father.
Even more shocking? The swab supposedly from Brown turned out to be a match for Patel himself.
And this wasn’t Patel’s first brush with the law. He had a prior conviction in 2017 for stealing £1,600 from a disabled person.
Consequences in Court
Eventually, both Patel and Brown admitted to their roles in the scam.
They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud at Guildford Crown Court.
Brown received a 50-week jail sentence, while Patel was sentenced to 33 weeks behind bars.
There was no evidence that Patel was paid for his involvement—but his actions have shaken trust in a system that should have protected both mother and child.
Chelsea Speaks Out After Justice Is Served
Following the court case, Chelsea shared her feelings online. Her statement was both emotional and powerful:
“The level of unprofessionalism and violation of trust in this case is beyond unacceptable.
Patients deserve to feel safe and respected when receiving care, especially in situations as sensitive as this.”
She went on to say she hopes this experience prompts change and pushes authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.