AID worker Sally Becker's baby was conceived with the help of a sperm donor.

The Argus exclusively revealed last week how Sally and her partner Doctor Duncan Stewart had split up.

Today, Dr Stewart has spoken for the first time about their break and has admitted publicly that he is not the father of Sally's child.

Speaking from his surgery in Wilbury Road, Hove, GP Dr Stewart said: "The child is not my child. Sally wanted a child and this is a child by a donor."

He added: "I'm being made to look like a cad who has thrown Sally out but we weren't really together when she became pregnant, although we were still friends."

Dr Stewart, 54, said he would support Sally in her pregnancy but, as he was not the father, he was not "emotionally involved".

He added: "It's not my child, I'm not going to be bringing it up.

"We are still living together in Withdean and are still good friends, although remaining living together is not really on and I suppose eventually I will sell the house."

Sally, 38, would not discuss how the baby was conceived today. She said: "It's a very personal thing."

However, she did confirm Dr Stewart was not the father of the child. She said: "As far as I was concerned this was never top secret as it was well-known Duncan had had a vasectomy four years ago."

Sally, five months pregnant, and Dr Stewart were together for five years before drifting apart last year.

Dr Stewart said: "Sally was in Kosovo and we were apart a lot. We led separate lives when it came down to it. The relationship just petered out.

"We've gone from being a couple to good friends quite seamlessly.

"I do feel sad about it, there were some splendid moments. We went through a lot together."

Sally, dubbed the Angel of Mostar for her work saving children in war-torn eastern Europe, was originally Dr Stewart's patient.

His involvement with her work first hit the headlines in 1993 when he stepped in to lead a mercy mission to Bosnia.

On December 10, 1993, their convoy, heading out to help more than 100 sick and wounded children, left Brighton. Within two months romance had blossomed.

They worked together on a number of other projects, although Dr Stewart did not join Sally on her recent trips abroad.

Although the couple remain friends Dr Stewart is now seeing another woman, Frances McCabe, who he has known for some time.

But he is adamant she is not the cause of his split with Sally.

He said: "The idea that Sally was dumped because I was with someone else is absolute madness.

"We remain excellent friends, we work together on Operation Angel and she lives in my house.

"The new relationship is not relevant. That began well after Christmas. It's absolute nonsense to say it was the reason Sally and I split."

Sally added: "Although it is true that Duncan has another woman in his life, she had nothing to do with the ending of our relationship and I wish them both every happiness."

Dr Stewart, who returned yesterday from a fishing holiday in Ireland, said: "I'm a very private person and I find all this very embarrassing, but the time has come to set the record straight."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.