AN illegal immigrant who hit the sole of a child's feet with a chair leg has today been jailed. Mohammed Elnagger, 33, is also likely to be deported back to Egypt following his sentence.

AN illegal immigrant who hit the sole of a child's feet with a chair leg has today been jailed.

Mohammed Elnagger, 33, is also likely to be deported back to Egypt following his sentence.

Elnagger, who has been living in Ipswich, denied two charges of child cruelty but was found guilty by an Ipswich Crown Court jury today.

He hit a child on the soles of their feet with a piece of wood and made another stand against a wall with their arms in the air.

Elnagger also pleaded guilty to theft.

Richard Wood prosecuting, said Elnagger and two co-defendants were seen on CCTV shoplifting in ASDA Superstore.

Mr Woods said: "He told security guards, he had opened DVD's to see if they displayed Arabic sub-titles, as he is Egyptian, he was removing the security tags. He said he put them in a bag so they did not fall off the top of the trolley, which was full".

Hugh Vass, mitigating, said his client was on anti-depressants because of his uncertain immigration status and because he was not allowed to work in this country.

Mr Vass said: "He is living off his wife's income support and has proved to be nothing but a good father to their two year old child."

He added: "There are different standards of punishment in different cultures and he appreciates if he lives in our society he has to subscribe to ways of the 21st century and not to the punishment of years ago. He saw a close friend killed by terrorists and felt unsafe in his own country so he came here."

Judge John Holt, said: "He is an illegal immigrant denied asylum status, so he has no right to remain in this country."

He added that the children were subjected to "prolonged discipline and chastisement".

Elnagger was jailed for a total of 18 months and a recommendation for deportation was made.

Judge Holt said: "It would be a detriment to this country if you remain."