THEY seek him here, they seek him there... The British media has been obsessed this week with the tale of Derek Lewis, the former prisons boss who was sacked by then home secretary Michael Howard after the Parkhurst escape.

Media reports had suggested that Mr Lewis had tried to win over former prisons minister Anne Widdecombe with flowers, chocolate and dinner. But Ms Widdecombe angrily denied this and Mr Lewis confirmed it was nonsense. Ms Widdecombe blamed Michael Howard's supporters for leaking the tale.

While the crisis was breaking, Mr Lewis was looking after his new job with British cable operator UK Gold and speaking at the European Cable Communications Association annual conference in Dublin. Unfortunately, by the time the Irish correspondents of the British media copped on, he was on his way back to London to defend his honour.