Manson hid cell phone in California prison cell

Los Angeles: Charles Manson, the cult leader, was among thousands of prisoners in California who have been found with mobile phones in their prison cells.

Manson, 76, who orchestrated a murderous spree by his followers four decades ago, was able to make calls and send text messages from behind bars. The mobile phone was discovered under his mattress.

A spokesman for the California Department of Corrections said: "It is troubling that he had a mobile phone since he is a person who got other people to murder on his behalf."