The Pitcairn Trials

Halfway between South America and New Zealand is a small piece of volcanic, British territory; Pitcairn. It has one shop open for a few hours a day, it’s accessible only by boat, it was born out of Naval mutiny in the 18th Century, it’s home to 37 British subjects... and an almighty scandal.

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Last refreshed: July 27th, 2025 at 3:34 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Your Questions Answered

Luke Jones takes you behind The Pitcairn Trials, to answer some of your most-asked questions. We hear how he navigated interviewing Glenda, who grew up on Pitcairn and experienced abuse there, how he found his way through a maze of official legal documents and whether he would ever visit Pitcairn himself. Luke reveals the unanswered questions he still has from the series, and the areas he’d like to explore further. Listen to all episodes of The Pitcairn Trials wherever you get your podcasts. The...

Mar 13, 2025•33 min•Ep. 9

The Aftermath

The Guilty men of Pitcairn received remarkably short prison sentences. Some on the island, sent to the luxury jail they helped to build. Some received community service, with time off to help with the island’s harvest and work. In the end the Pitcairn Trials cost £47 million, paid by the British taxpayer and government. By 2009 all the convicted men had been released. But the problem did not vanish in the years since. We examine what the future holds for Pitcairn. Can Pitcairn escape the shadows...

Jan 30, 2025•40 min•Ep. 8

Taking a Stand

Glenda takes the stand. Through interviews and court transcripts, we examine the Defence team’s arguments, and the legal debates that surrounded them. Glenda and police officer Peter George wait for the verdict in the UK. Peter gets it first, then phones Glenda. All…Guilty. But the defence is not giving up… so before convictions are entered, it is back to London, to the Privy council as the Pitcairners lodge an extraordinary appeal before the Law Lords. Listen to episodes of The Pitcairn Trials ...

Jan 23, 2025•34 min•Ep. 7

White Wigs and Red Dirt

Judges, lawyers and a press pack make the long journey to Pitcairn and the trials begin. Journalists are summoned to a meeting of all the women on the Island at Big Fence as they argue that their men are innocent, and there are claims that the trials are a British conspiracy to reclaim Pitcairn. A punishment for the mutiny on the Bounty in 1789, revenge on Pitcairn, being a dish served well and truly cold. Listen to episodes of The Pitcairn Trials exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in t...

Jan 23, 2025•34 min•Ep. 6

Order, Order

Despite immense pressure to withdraw their testimony, key witnesses for the prosecution are secured. A campaign to undermine the victims to withdraw from the trial begins, led by… Pitcairn women. Listen to episodes of The Pitcairn Trials exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, or Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://www.wondery.com/links/the-pitcairn-trials . There are organisations around the world that work to prevent the abuse of c...

Jan 16, 2025•34 min•Ep. 5

Glenda, A Survivor’s Story

Luke Jones meets Glenda at her home, in the UK. Glenda grew up on Pitcairn but now lives in the UK. She was abused growing up but told no one, until she was contacted by Kent Police during Operation Unique. This is the first time Glenda has recorded her story and it is very emotional. Glenda is supported in the room by her therapist and friend Sandy. And what about justice for the victims and survivors? Some fear the risks to the Island are too great to take this to trial. Politicians and lawyer...

Jan 16, 2025•34 min•Ep. 4

Have you Ever Wanted to Disappear?

What is the history of the Island of Pitcairn, its myths and realities? Born from the 1789 Mutiny, the mutineers, led by Fletcher Christian stumble across Pitcairn. Handily wrongly located on maps, this is their opportunity to escape the British Navy and disappear, today all Pitcairn families are descended from the mutineers and their Tahitian ‘wives’. But they were not a contented community, marked by violence and death, which are marked on the Island in place names. Abuse survivor Glenda, now ...

Jan 08, 2025•36 min•Ep. 3

Up the Hill of Difficulty

Kent WPC Gail Cox is chosen as the woman to bring law to Pitcairn. She sets off to Pitcairn to teach the locals how to Police themselves. At a drunken Pitcairn party, one evening, another girl makes an allegation of rape. Detective Peter George returns to Pitcairn and a distressing and astonishing picture begins to emerge of child sexual abuse on an unimaginable scale. Listen to episodes of The Pitcairn Trials exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spo...

Jan 08, 2025•33 min•Ep. 2

Paradise, Lost

The first episode of "The Pitcairn Trials" follows Detective Sergeant Peter George to the isolated Pitcairn Island in 1996 to investigate a child rape allegation. It explores the island's dramatic origins from the Bounty mutiny and its rugged, unhospitable nature. The investigation quickly reveals a community deeply intertwined with its violent past and struggling with the absence of a modern legal framework, forcing investigators to confront profound challenges in administering justice.

Sep 18, 2024•27 min•Ep. 1

Introducing: The Pitcairn Trials

British journalist Luke Jones uncovers a chilling story of historic abuse on the tiny, remote Pitcairn Island, a British territory in the Pacific. The podcast delves into a dark scandal involving generations of women and girls, exploring how a lack of oversight allowed these secrets to fester, bringing the unique island community to the brink. It's a lesson in what humans are capable of when they believe no one is watching.

Sep 09, 2024•2 min

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