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Baby ban on US child support shirker

Mr Oakley said the ruling overlooked significant factors

Mr Oakley has already been sentenced to three years in jail and five years' probation for failing to pay $25,000 in support payments.

The ban on Mr Oakley procreating was first upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in July but Mr Oakley appealed the decision, claiming that mitigating factors had been overlooked.

Mr Oakley has four sons and five daughters, born to four women.

Unwilling

In its ruling, the court was keen to emphasize that the case was not about a person's inability to pay child support, but rather Mr Oakley's refusal to do so.

"The exceptional circumstances outlined show an intentional unwillingness to pay child support," read the ruling.

"The exceptional circumstances include, among other things, that Oakley was in arrears in support of his nine children in excess of $25,000."