CHILD-beater Mark Wayne Hudd's ex-wife has welcomed the 12-month jail sentence he received for his reign of terror.

Linda Ingles said she and her three children could now get on with their lives.

Mrs Ingles, of Cefn Golau, Tredegar, said: "I'm relieved that he has gone to prison.

"The last thing we wanted was for him to come back strutting around the town.

"The children have been absolutely marvellous. People have stopped me on the street to say they are a credit.

"I rang the children to tell them and their first reaction was to ask how I was.

"That is incredible after everything they have been through." Hudd, 36, was convicted last month at Newport crown court of two charges of cruelty, one relating to daughter Taryn and the other on son Ryan. He had pleaded not guilty.

Judge David Morris yesterday sentenced 36-year-old Hudd to 12 months jail on each charge to run concurrently.

As he was led away from the dock, the factory worker at Yuasa Batteries, Ebbw Vale, shook his head.

When their father was sentenced, Ryan was at school and Taryn, who wants to be a lawyer, was on work experience at Tredegar magistrates court.

In interviews with the police, Taryn said beatings were a daily occurrence and she now loved her father but didn't like him.

Judge Morris said Hudd acted like "a petty Caesar" at home in Tredegar. Hudd's refusal to admit the offences or show remorse meant only a jail sentence would be appropriate.

He told Hudd: "You indulged in many repeated incidents over a period of time of loss of temper with your children, giving vent to your frustrations in life by striking the children.

"You behaved like a classic petty Caesar in your household. Men who behave like that must learn that they will be punished for their lack of control and in a manner which should deter other fathers from behaving similarly."

The jury had been told of incidents including one in which he dragged Taryn by the hair across the landing at the family home. Robert Buckland, defending, said Hudd was desperate to regain the trust and love of his children.

He said Hudd was paying maintenance for the children and a younger sister and was now coming to terms with the more unpleasant aspects of his temper.