A man who admitted 11 counts of cruelty against four children was yesterday given a six-month jail term, suspended for two years.Christopher Syder, 42, of Bevan Close, Carleton Rode, hit the children with slippers, Norwich Crown Court heard.

A man who admitted 11 counts of cruelty against four children was yesterday given a six-month jail term, suspended for two years.

Christopher Syder, 42, of Bevan Close, Carleton Rode, hit the children with slippers, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Judge Paul Downes told him: “This was not abuse of the most serious kind but it was excessive chastisement. Whatever was the case when we were young is no longer acceptable or permissible under the law.”

The judge also imposed a two-year supervision order on Syder.