POP IDOL YOBBO'S PRISON LETTERS Oct 4 2003

Thug promised to change

By Cara Page

POP Idol thug Marc Dillon vowed to change for the better in letters written behind bars.

The wannabe star was serving six months for a vicious assault when he wrote to a female friend insisting he would come out of jail ``a better man''.

And he revealed he was so scared he felt like crying ``every two minutes''.

In a letter while on remand at HMP Edinburgh in June 1998, he wrote: ``As soon as I get out of here that's me never doing anything ever again.''

Dillon was sentenced to 12 months after attacking former soldier Terry Kiernan.

The Pop Idol finalist and two pals stripped, stabbed and robbed Terry in Livingston, West Lothian.

After leaving him for dead, they ransacked his home and stole his car.

His female penpal said: ``I'm not saying he is an angel.

``But he deserves a second chance.''

The letters give aninsight into the prison life of the 24-year-old.

Dillon was remanded at HMP Edinburgh, formerly Saughton Prison, in June 1998 and was sentenced to six months in November.

He spent a night at Polmont Young Offenders Institution where Dillon was in terror of his fellow cons.

On Scottish Prison Service headed notepaper he wrote: ``This place is crazy, you can get slashed just for not giving someone a bit of snout. I preferred Saughton.''

He was transferred to Glenochil Young Offenders Institution, Clackmannanshire, where he was a Category C prisoner likely to present a risk or danger to the public.

The first signs thatDillon had star ambition came in a letter written on December 21.

He said: ``We all get to go to chapel to sing Christmas carols in a folk group where they play the instruments. I was choking to get up to do a solo on the guitar.''

And in early 1999 he wrote: `` I never went to rec tonight.

``Instead I went to a guitar class. I'm learning the lead to Pink Floyd's `Wish You Were Here.''' Dillon was never made a D-grade prisoner, so was not allowed home for weekend visits.

In April 1999 he wrote: ``I'm going for my D-grade again but I don't think I will get it.

``I never get it because I'm too hyper and f**k about too much.''

Dillon was released from jail in May 1999.

He now lives in Essex. His friend, who will be voting for him in the final later this year, said: ``He came out and I met up with him once.

``I last heard from him two years ago after he had moved to Edinburgh.

``He phoned out the blue. Marc is not a bad person. Everyone deserves another chance.''