Pitcairn rapists jailed

SIX men - half the adult males on tiny Pitcairn Island - have been jailed for up to six years for rapes and sex attacks dating back 40 years on the isolated Pacific home of the Bounty mutineers.

Island mayor Steve Christian, who claims to be a direct descendent of mutiny leader Fletcher Christian, was convicted of five rapes of young women and sentenced to three years in prison.

Sentences for the other five ranged from community service to six years in prison.