A woman and her children were forced to live in a tiny room on the roof of their three-storey home in a “malicious and sadistic” relationship, according to divorce papers seen by The Sunday Times of Malta.

In accepting her request for a divorce, a judge acknowledged that the woman and children had been subjected to “cruelty and violence” spread over a number of years and a life of “incredible suffering” because of her husband’s behaviour.

Mr Justice Robert Mangion made the observations as he threw out the man’s objection to the divorce application filed by his estranged wife who wanted to sever all ties with her husband, who subjected her to physical and emotional violence.

Despite objecting to the divorce request, the man failed to appear in the Family Court to substantiate his objection, Mr Justice Mangion said.

Read more in The Sunday Times of Malta.