Paedophile father had sex with estranged daughter after she tracked him down on Facebook

A paedophile had sex with a daughter he had put up for adoption after she tracked him down on Facebook.

Eleanor Jackson, 23, was taken from her biological father Frank Humphreys, 51, when she was just 17 months old, a court heard.

But when she traced him as an adult the pair began a sexual relationship.

Humphreys and his daughter both pleaded guilty to incest

Humphreys, of Cleator Moor, Cumbria, was jailed at Carlisle Crown Court for 21 months.

The court heard that the pair had been estranged for a number of years since Jackson was put up for adoption when she was just 17-months-old.

Frank Humphrey and his daughter Eleanor Jackson above

However, Tim Brennand, prosecuting, said she had tracked Humphreys down through Facebook in 2010 and she - together with her twin sister - went to live with him.

He said that officials became suspicious when the pair were observed acting in a manner which was not just 'over familiar' but in an 'overtly sexualised manner'.

'Their relationship was overt and sexual and were involved with each other in a full physical relationship,' he added.

Mr Brennand said that others started to notice that the pair were not acting in a normal manner.

He said: 'Friends and family have also observed these two defendants interact with one another.

'Once again there are small pieces of evidence suggestive of the fact that Humphreys was behaving in a sexualised manner towards his daughter.'

He said that both defendants had both strongly denied being in a sexual relationship and when first questioned Jackson had exercised her right to make 'no comment' to answers during interview.

However, the pair both changed their pleas to guilty at Carlisle Crown Court in February this year.

David Birrell, defending Humphreys, said there was 'very little mitigation' he could put before the court.

The court heard that Humphreys had a previous conviction for having sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 28 years old.

Greg Hoare, defending Jackson, said she had been looking for some permanence when she decided to trace her biological father.

He added that the case had affected her and she had been shunned and even threatened by others as a result.

Judge Paul Batty QC said it was a 'terrible case' considering the age difference, her vulnerability and Humphrey's previous conviction for underage sex.

He said: 'You took them under your roof and there were serious concerns in relation to your activity.'

As well as the prison sentence, Humphreys will be made the subject of a sex offenders prevention order.

Under the terms of the order he will be prevented from having any contact with any child, or family member, under the age of 16 without permission.

Jackson was given a two-year community order, where she will be supervised by members of the probation service, as well as a five-month curfew between 9pm and 6am.

She will also be on the sex offenders register for five years.