Dad of 23 children by 14 women is JAILED for not paying child support

Howard Veal has fathered 23 children by 14 women, and owes an astonishing $533,000 - that's R3.7 million - in child support payments.

He has now begun a "two to four-year" prison sentence for failing to support his offspring. His release will be determined by the Michigan parole board.

In an impassioned outburst, Veal was told he was an "insult to every responsible father who sacrifices to provide for their children" by Michigan judge Denis Lieber.

Branding 44-year-old Veal a "poster child for irresponsibility", Judge Lieber added:

"Animals procreate, human beings are supposed to nurture their children. When you create a human being, I think you have a fundamental responsibility to provide for that child with necessities like food, clothing and shelter".

Michigan's assistant attorney general, Mitchell Wood, had recommended that Veal's behaviour justified a jail sentence because he was unlikely ever to make substantial inroads into what he owes, especially as there remain 14 outstanding cases against him.

His release will be determined by the Michigan parole board.

AP reports that, during the trial, Veal claimed he paid what he could.

"I was paying money from my unemployment," Veal told the judge. "I never chose not to pay."

Sherri Black, mother of two of Veal's children, said she was pleased with the sentence but would prefer to get money.

She has received only $87.75 (about R600) from him - over seven years!

"Now my taxes will go to support him in prison," Black said.