An Israeli court has convicted a polygamist cult leader of sex crimes after he kept a harem of women who bore him dozens of children in a state of near total obedience.

AN Israeli man who kept a cult-like harem of women and fathered dozens of children with them was charged in a Tel Aviv court yesterday with enslavement, rape, incest and other sexual offences.

A 60-year-old Israeli man who kept a harem of at least 21 women who bore him 49 children has been charged with enslavement, rape, incest and other sexual offences.