Jeffrey Archer tells today how he contemplated taking his own life and was put on suicide watch when he first arrived in prison.
In his prison diaries, which are being serialised in the Daily Mail, he writes: "They've now supplied me with a Bic razor ... I consider cutting my throat, but the thought of failure and having to return to that awful hospital wing is enough to put anyone off."
He describes being placed in the hospital wing on his first night in Belmarsh prison in London: "I eventually fall asleep. An hour later I'm woken when the light is switched back on, the grille in the door opens and two eyes peer in at me. This is repeated every hour, on the hour - suicide watch."
His diaries also include attacks on Ted Francis, Archer's co-defendant, who was found not guilty, and Angela Peppiatt, his former secretary whose testimony against him at his Old Bailey perjury trial helped seal his fate. Lord Archer repeats his QC's accusation that Miss Peppiatt "stole thousands of pounds from me" - an accusation she denies.
In the extract from his diaries published today, he breaches prison rules by naming inmates, although the two identified today are both already well known to the public. He also breaks guidelines by describing other prisoners' crimes, referring to one man who "killed his wife and young daughter".
Prison is a grim contrast with the luxurious life he forfeited when he was convicted of perjury last year. "At noon, I'm let out of my cell to join the queue for lunch. One look at what is on offer and I can't face it - overcooked meat, heaven knows from which animal, mushy peas swimming in water and potatoes that Oliver Twist would have rejected." Lord Archer discovers that life inside offers less glittering attractions than shepherd's pie and Krug; prisoners hold ant races to relieve the boredom, with the losing ants ending up "in tomorrow's soup".
The novelist has been warned he could lose remission from his four-year sentence if A Prison Diary - Belmarsh: Hell, his view of life behind bars, breaks guidelines.
The prison service's director general, Martin Narey, said he is taking legal advice over Lord Archer's conduct.
He could face extra days inside before being released from the jail term he received last year for perjury and perverting the course of justice during a 1987 libel case. Insiders said a modest loss of privileges was the likely outcome, though some MPs were outraged.
According to his publishers, Lord Archer could earn between £200,000 and £300,000 in royalties. Outside Lincoln jail, where her husband was moved for breaching day release conditions, Lady Archer said he felt the diaries were important. "He feels what he has to say about drugs, about paedophiles, and about lifers in particular is important and should be debated as soon as possible," she told reporters after her prison visit.
Asked if the situation would throw a shadow over the Tory conference, she said: "Well I would point out that Jeffrey is not a member of the Conservative party."
