Five former officers have been convicted of physically abusing inmates at a detention centre in County Durham following one of the UK's biggest investigations of its kind.

Inmates, who were described as being "without a voice" suffered systematic beatings as a means of "degrading and humiliating" them, at the Medomsley Detention Centre near Consett from the 1960s to its closure in 1988.

A total of 1,676 men came forward to claim they had been subjected to abusive treatment while housed at the centre, which was renowned for applying the "short, sharp shock" form of justice.

A team of 70 detectives launched Operation Seabrook in August 2013, and 32 former warders were interviewed, with seven facing court in a series of three trials at Teesside Crown Court, the last of which ended on Monday.

It can now be reported that five former staff officers have been convicted of offences including misconduct in public office after jurors were told that much of the violence meted out was "for the enjoyment of the officers".