A Bradford father-of-five has been jailed for three years after being found guilty of what a judge described as "inexcusable violence'' towards his children.

Judge James Spencer, QC, told the 38-year-old that he had been convicted on overwhelming evidence of systematic ill-treatment of the youngsters over a four-year period.

The father, who cannot be named to protect the identities of the children, had denied a total of 16 cruelty charges and two allegations of assault, but he was found guilty at the end of a four-day trial on all but five of the matters.

The prosecution alleged that the children, three boys and two girls, were subjected to daily beatings.

When the eldest daughter tried to complain to social services she was "exiled to Pakistan''. Matters finally came to light when the other children ran away from home.

The jury heard during the trial how the father hit the children with various implements, including a mop handle and on one occasion an engine part.

Judge Spencer said the youngsters had only survived because of their mutual support for one another.