Devastated father received taunting texts after his ex murdered their two-year-old daughter

A devastated father has revealed his ex-partner sent him taunting messages moments before murdering their daughter in a revenge for him moving out.

Paul Hogan, 24, moved out of his home with former partner Cody-Anne Jackson after their relationship of three years turned sour.

The father-of-one agreed to look after their 2-year-old daughter Macey at weekends and thought everything was fine as he dropped her off in Staffordshire in October 2016.

But within hours Jackson smothered the little girl with a pillow after bombarding Hogan with threatening messages.

Father Paul Hogan, pictured with daughter Macey, is still grieving the loss of his child.

Speaking out 18 months from the tragedy, Hogan admitted he was struggling to cope with his spiteful ex-girlfriend's words ringing in his head.

Jackson taunted him with a message before the killing, writing: "Sorry, just thought you deserved one last picture and memory of her."

And in another she said: "Savour the last ever picture... See you in court."

Cody-Anne Jackson, 22, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment after a trial at Staffordshire Crown Court.

Hogan told the Mirror his memories of his daughter were haunted by thoughts of her final moments.

Sentencing Jackson in July last year to life with a minimum term of 16 years, Judge Michael Chambers said: "For a mother to kill her very young child who depends on her for protection above all others is a wicked and appalling act."

Jackson did not acknowledge Paul's presence in court.

He says: "I was there for the day of the sentencing, she didn't look over once."

The court case heard how Jackson left a suicide note before the murder, writing: "I do not want to leave her behind but I can't go on either.

"There's nothing for me or Macey, life's sh**."

Jackson tried to take own her life after writing the notes but police managed to break into her home and save her.

The killer changed her plea to guilty of the fifth day of her trial.

Although Hogan was aware the pair had problems, he says there were never any signs during their relationship that Jackson was capable of murder.

"I never would have left Macey with her if I ever thought something like that could have happened," he told the newspaper.