A JUDGE made jurors laugh when he said he did not know what a woman witness saw in her heavy drinking, drug taking ex-partner.

Bradford Recorder, Roger Thomas QC, was addressing the panel after sentencing David Moffat to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for breach of a non molestation order and child cruelty.

After Moffat had left the courtroom, Judge Thomas turned to the jurors and said: "What she saw in him in the first place, I don't know."

Moffat, 40, of Lynthorne Road, Frizinghall, Bradford, was cleared of raping the woman part-way through his trial today.

The jury acquitted him of all four rape charges on the direction of the judge.

Moffat pleaded guilty to breaching the non molestation order by shouting at the boy in the street, exposing him to alcohol and drugs and locking him in an attic bedroom.

Allegations that he hit the teenager and broke his possessions were withdrawn from the jury.

Moffat's previous convictions included breach of the non molestation order by sending text messages after his relationship with the boy's mother ended several years ago.

Judge Thomas made a restraining order banning Moffat from contacting his former partner and her son.

"The relationship went downhill because your cannabis use and drinking made you a nasty piece of work," the judge told Moffat.