Writer jailed for defaming royalty in book that sold seven copies

An Australian writer whose novel sold just seven copies has been jailed for three years for defaming the King of Thailand. Harry Nicolaides, who appeared in court in leg irons and brown prison overalls, broke down and wept after the court delivered its sentence. He would have faced double the time in jail had be not pleaded guilty. "This can't be real. It feels like a bad dream," Mr Nicolaides, from Melbourne, told reporters as he left the court yesterday. "This is an Alice in Wonderland experience. I really believe that I am going to wake up and all of you will be gone." ...