Nilsen sues to publish memoirs

Dennis Nilsen, one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, is taking the Home Secretary to court in a bid to publish his memoirs.

Prison authorities seized History of a Drowning Boy, Nilsen's 453-page autobiography, when it was sent back to him in jail for proof reading. Nilsen originally smuggled the manuscript out of prison in 1996 by hiding it in legal papers.

The case will be brought before the High Court next month, when Nilsen's lawyers will argue that his human rights have been violated. They will demand that his memoirs are returned to him immediately for completion and editing.

Prison authorities, however, will argue that the memoirs are not suitable material for Nilsen to possess in jail. Sourcessay the manuscript has a highly pornographic content, and are also concerned about the impact that graphic details will have on the relatives of his victims.

Nilsen, who was jailed for life in 1983, is one of Britain's most prolific serial killers. His targets were rent boys and homeless young men whom he lured back to his house, to strangle and then drown.

This is not the first time Nilsen has taken the authorities to court. Three years ago, the mass murderer launched a court battle to gain uncensored access to gay pornography magazines in his prison cell. He argued that he was being discriminated against on the grounds that heterosexual prisoners were allowed top-shelf publications.

Nilsen also caused controversy when he gave a television interview talking frankly about his murders. A bid by then Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke to ban the tape failed.