Polygamist jailed for five years

An American polygamist who has five wives and 30 children was jailed yesterday for five years.

52-year-old Tom Green, a former Mormon missionary, was found guilty three months ago of four counts of bigamy and one of fraudulently claiming welfare payments.

Green had consistently defended his right to marry several times, even going on the Jerry Springer Show to claim he was following the original beliefs of the Mormon religion.

He had claimed his conviction was a persecution of his religious beliefs.