A man has been convicted in Manchester of child cruelty for forcing two boys to flail themselves during a Muslim ceremony, prosecutors said yesterday.

Syed Mustafa Zaidi, 44, of Eccles, had forced the boys to whip themselves with chains fitted with curved blades at the ends during an annual Shia Muslim ceremony, police said.

The boys, aged 13 and 15, were taken to hospital by their mother suffering from several deep wounds on their backs and multiple slash wounds.

Mr Zaidi had used the Zangeer Zani flail on himself during the ceremony at a Manchester centre in January, before being stopped by other members of the Muslim community. He then forced the boys to flagellate themselves instead.

Community members stepped in again to help the youngsters.

Mr Zaidi was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court yesterday of two counts of child cruelty.