London, Nov 26 : A 56-year-old man dubbed "the British Josef Fritzl", who fathered nine children with two of his own daughters has been jailed for 25 life terms after he admitted raping the girls over a 30-year period.

The man, from Sheffield, got them pregnant 19 times and threatened to kill them if they told anyone about their horrific ordeal – making his case similar to that of Austrian rapist Fritzl’s.

Fritzl kept his daughter locked in a dungeon for 24 years as he fathered seven children with her, reports the Sun.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that the British man, who cannot be named, must serve 19½ years before being considered for release.

He had admitted 25 rapes and four indecent assault charges — but cops believe one girl was raped more than a thousand times.

The rapes started when the girls were aged about eight. The abuse only ended in February this year when police finally arrested the father.

The sisters choked back tears in court yesterday as Judge Alan Goldsack QC said: “In 40 years of dealing with criminal cases the circumstances here are the worst I have come across. Members of the public will consider you should never be released. I agree.”

A statement from the sisters said: “His detention brings us only the knowledge that he cannot touch us again. The suffering he caused will continue for many years.” (ANI)