A father was today beginning a life sentence for the murder of his two-year-old daughter.

It took a jury only an hour to convict Mohammed Fiaz Qadar, 33, above, after a two-week trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Iqra Bibi died after Qadar repeatedly punched her head at their home in Undercliffe Street, IN Undercliffe, Bradford, last November.

The toddler, only 2ft 7ins tall and found to be undernourished, died in hospital after suffering a terrible brain injury.

Her body was covered in more than 50 bruises from repeated attacks by her father during the previous three weeks.

Qadar's young wife, Rukhsar Bibi, 22, was cleared by the jury of cruelty to a child.

Bibi, who spoke no English, arrived in Britain from Pakistan with Iqra in January last year.

During the course of her evidence, through an interpreter, it emerged that there was no telephone in their home and she was not allowed to speak to her neighbours or even take out the family's rubbish in case anyone saw her.

Mr Justice Henriques told the jury yesterday: "I agree entirely with your verdict."

He said Qadar would receive life imprisonment but he needed to determine how long Qadar should serve before he could be considered for parole so he adjourned sentencing until today.

The court heard that Qadar had two previous convictions for causing actual bodily harm. One involved an attack on a man in a house and the other was a road rage incident in which Qadar was sentenced to two years imprisonment in 1996. He threw a knife and cut a man's ear and cheek with it.

During the murder trial the court heard that Iqra was admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary after her father attacked her between 8am and 9am last November 13.

She was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where a scan showed she was brain dead and her life support machine was switched of on November 15.

As well as being covered in 54 bruises Iqra had deep bruising to her head measuring 12cm x 11cm and a blood clot between the scalp and the brain. The jury heard medical evidence that severe force would have been needed to inflict such damage.

Qadar, who had admitted manslaughter and cruelty but denied murder, told the jury he gripped Iqra and knocked her down several times in the bedroom and she struck her head on a bed. He denied that he intended to cause her serious injury.

Speaking outside the court, Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who led the murder was in charge of the case, said Iqra had led a miserable existence during her 11 months in this country.

She was undernourished and she had never seen by a health visitor or a doctor.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who led the murder inquiry, said Qadar had carried out a "sustained and violent attack on a defenceless child."

He added: "This man has been convicted of killing his two-year-old daughter who suffered more than 50 bruises. It was not some sudden loss of temper.

"There can be no mitigating circumstances for a crime of this nature."