The Argus, Brighton, is publishing the story of what life is like inside London's Belmarsh Prison - after the newsdesk was sent letters from convicted killer tycoon Nicholas Hoogstraten.

In the extracts, published this week - before he is sentenced tomorrow for manslaughter - he compares his experiences in jail with those of Tory peer Jeffrey Archer.

His letters contradict Archer, whose new book, A Prison Diary, refers to appalling conditions at Belmarsh, where he spent the first weeks of his sentence for perjury.

Hoogstraten told the Argus: "Nothing much of what Archer has to say is true.

"There is nothing wrong with the food. The officers and staff are 95 per cent decent people trying to do a difficult job with inadequate managerial back-up and resources."

Large sections of the letters he sent to The Argus indicate he will challenge the conviction and is adamant he has a watertight case. He remains convinced he has been done a great injustice and certain he will be released.

The conviction of Hoogstraten in July was good news for sales of the Argus.

It boosted that evening's overall sale to 816 copies above last year. But the real benefit of the paper's work was borne out the following day when it produced a 12-page backgrounder on Hoogstraten and the case, including a dramatic poster front with the headline "Goodbye and… good riddance."

That day's sale was 7,504 copies up on the previous year and 5,090 on the previous week.

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