JAY-CEE DUGARD, who spent 18 years as a captive in a sex offender's garden, has spoken publicly for the first time and released the first photos of herself as an adult.

A picture on the cover of People magazine shows Miss Dugard, 29, smiling, her light brown hair loosely falling on her shoulders.

In other photos, she is shown with her mother, sister Shayna and two daughters at an undisclosed California location, where she has been staying since she resurfaced two months ago.

"I'm so happy to be back with my family," she told the magazine.

"Nothing is more important than the unconditional love and support I have from them."

A family spokeswoman said Miss Dugard wanted to release the photos as she knew people had been curious about her.

Erika Price Schulte said: "This was a kind of thank you to the people who have expressed their support and joy for her."