Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has called for a review of community payback orders (CPOs) after rapists were handed the sentences.

The call for a review came at First Minister's Questions on Thursday after an investigation into CPOs was published by the Daily Mail newspaper.

The orders were introduced in by the Scottish Government in 2011.

Davidson said she agrees community sentencing is appropriate for some offences but "the crime of rape should not be among them".

The Edinburgh Central MSP wants the Scottish Government to conduct a review into the community sentences.

The First Minister said it would be wrong for her to "comment on any individual case" but she has "no doubt in her mind" that "the offence of rape, or indeed attempted rape, should be treated with the utmost severity".

Sturgeon said: "The vast majority, the overwhelming majority, of rape cases - 93% of rape cases - incur a custodial sentence.

"Indeed, the average length of custodial sentences for rape and attempted rape are now 17% longer than they were back in the year 2006/2007."

The Conservative leader said 93% was too low and insisted no one should be handed a community sentence after being found guilty of rape.

She said: "People and the public must have confidence that the sentence is appropriate for the crime and that does include punishment.

"The trouble is I am afraid too often the response from ministers is simply to declare that the system is working fine and that everyone should just accept it - but CPOs aren't working fine. "

She added: "I believe that we now need a calm, considered, fresh review by the Scottish Government on the way that CPOs are being handed out".

The First Minister said she does share the Conservatives' concerns but an independent evaluation was carried out in 2015 and it highlighted the positives of the community sentencing.