Phil Spector 'prison complaints dismissed'

California prison authorities have said that they are baffled by reports that Phil Spector is in fear of his life in the state's Corcoran jail - maintaining that the music producer is being housed in a completely different correctional facility.

Spector, who is four months into a life sentence for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, recently revealed that he is terrified of his fellow cellmates and is looking to move to a "better prison".

In a letter to friend Steve Escobar, he also described the jail as a "snake pit", adding: "They'd kill you in here for a 39-cent bag of soup."

However, detention centre spokeswoman Terry Thornton has said that Spector is actually serving time at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, which is two miles from Corcoran, Contactmusic reports.

Thornton added: "He isn't even in the same prison. If he has fears for his safety, he needs to tell prison administrators."