The father of my toddler is threatening to apply for joint custody because I have put a child maintenance claim in. He and I have no relationship, were not in a relationship and he has only met the child 3 times. He insisted on a DNA test saying he didn't believe the child was his. Results show the child is his. I've offered access since the child was born which he has turned down all but 3 times, the last of which he said he didn't want to see either of us again 
. I've struggled financially as long as I could then put in a claim for child maintenance after he ignored my messages asking for financial help. Since then he has been threatening to seek joint custody. He's single, works full time and lives down south. We are in the north. His name isnt on the birth certificate.
Am I right in thinking the most he would be awarded in court is contact centre visits? He's basically a stranger to the child who is under 2. I'd rather he comes to our house to see the child to build a proper relationship. He has shown no interest in the child until the maintenance claim and threatened to seek joint custody as a way to scare me off claiming. His ex girlfriend has also been sending me threatening emails saying they are going to get married and seek joint custody.
I don't want to argue or go to court, I just need him to contribute financially and come to see the child at our home while she is very small. Once a solid relationship has been built we can discuss access at his home, but it would take time for a relationship to form and he would need to prove he has a genuine interest in being the child's father not just playing tit for tat because of the maintenance claim. It seems he is only threatening court trying to scare me from continuing with the maintenance claim, which is a pretty low thing to do.
Anyone know how a judge might see his behaviour given that I'm (still) offering access and he is ignoring me and threatening court? X