A serial killer was ordered by New York prison authorities to serve two years solitary confinement for having his autographs and artworks sold on the Internet.

Officials said Arthur Shawcross, who strangled at least 11 prostitutes and cannibalised some of them in the 1980s in Rochester, New York, also lost privileges for two years.

Authorities suspended Shawcross' arts and crafts privileges a week ago when they learned that the Internet auction site eBay.com was auctioning items, bearing his signature.