Judge puts three children up for adoption due to parents' open relationship

Both parents regularly met other partners while living in the same house, court heard

The number of children adopted in England has fallen for the second year in a row according to the DfE (Getty Images)

Three children are to be placed for adoption after social workers raised concerns about their parents' "open relationship".

Their father chose to see other women and their mother, who "frequented" a website called Plenty Of Fish and had relationships with men she met through the internet, a family court judge was told.

Judge Elizabeth Williscroft said the couple continued their "dysfunctional relationship" while living in the same house.

Detail of the case has emerged in a written ruling by Judge Williscroft following a private family court hearing.

The judge, who is based in Wolverhampton, said the children were all under five and could not be identified.

She said social services bosses at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council had asked her to make decisions about the children's future.

Social services staff had described the couple's relationship as "open".

The couple had disputed the description.

But the judge said the man had chosen to see other women and "complete strangers" had visited the house to have sex with the woman.

"Father plainly chose to see other women," said Judge Williscroft in her ruling.

"Mother has stated her relationships with men on the internet began as a result – whatever the cause, they were seriously risky."

The judge added: "It is plain some complete strangers have visited her house while the children were there to have sex with her."

She went on: "They both continued their dysfunctional relationship living in the same home ... all of this must have been confusing for the children."

Social workers said the couple had also found it hard to supervise their children and Judge Williscroft added: "Mother was observed parenting 'from the sofa' and relying on others to keep the children safe from hazards."

Press Association