US army rapist jailed for 25 years

Delmar Simpson, the United States army staff sergeant convicted last week of raping six female recruits in his charge, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison.

The sentence was agreed by a six-member court-martial jury after a day- long hearing in which Simpson apologised to his wife, his children, and the trainees "who believe I brought them harm", and in which his mother made an emotional plea for mercy. A psychologist testified that Simpson suffered from "a narcissistic personality disorder". Simpson insisted that all the women concerned had agreed to sex, and he is expected to appeal. Mary Dejevsky - Washington