A FATHER has been barred from having contact with his three children after a family court judge concluded he encouraged the youngsters to ‘engage in sexual activity between themselves’.

Judge Ross Duggan said the children – a girl now aged four and boys of five and eight – had been placed into interim foster care by social workers a year ago, but had given a ‘compelling’ account of the sexual abuse.

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He said they were initially placed into foster care together but had been separated to prevent ‘sexual activity’ between them.

The judge concluded their mother – who had also been physically and sexually abused by the man – knew what had happened to them and approved plans for the youngsters to be placed with separate foster carers.

He said social workers had agreed the children could stay in contact with their mother, but contact with their father would be ‘detrimental’.

Detail emerged in a ruling by the judge following a family court hearing in Preston.

Judge Duggan said the children could not be identified, but he said the local authority with responsibility for them was Lancashire County Council.

He gave little detail about the children’s parents and did not say whether either had been prosecuted.

Judge Duggan said the man abused and raped the woman in front of the children, physically assaulted the youngsters and had shown the girl and the eldest boy online pornography.

He said the youngsters had spoken to police and foster carers.

Judge Duggan said the man denied allegations against him and had not attended court hearings.

“These are damaged children,” said the judge.

“They must learn new ways and overcome their memories of the past.”

He added: “I accept the unanimous professional advice... that contact with father would be detrimental to the children.”

Judge Duggan said the woman had a “mild learning disability”, had been vulnerable and scared and had eventually built up enough courage to take the children and leave the man.