Paris Hilton gives interview to journalist Barbara Walters from prison

After releasing a statement in which she said she hoped "the public and the media will focus on more important things, like the men and women serving our country in Iraq" the socialite spoke to ABC news journalist Walters about her "horrible experience" .

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One-to-one: Paris Hilton spoke to veteran broadcaster Barbara Walters who is best known for her interview with Monica Lewinsky which broke ratings records

According to the ABC news website the jailhouse call came about because Paris' mother, Kathy Hilton, phoned Walters and during the conversation, Paris called on another line.

When her mother told her she was talking to Walters, Paris said she'd like to speak to Walters herself.

Walters then agreed to accept a collect call from Paris in jail. All prisoners are required to call collect. Hilton told Walters her first few days in jail before she was released were "a horrible experience."

She said: "I was not eating or sleeping. I was severely depressed and felt as if I was in a cage," she said.

Asked how she is now she has been sent back, a seemingly contrite Paris said: "I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute.

She added: "Now, I would like to make a difference...God has given me this new chance."

A household name in the US, Walters is known for "personality journalism" and her "scoop" interviews, such as the Monica Lewinsky interview that won the highest ratings of any journalist interview.

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After visiting her sister, Nicky said the heiress is 'being strong'

Paris is said to be refusing to eat or drink, as she fears prison staffers trying to make money will take a mobile phone picture of her on the toilet.

She is under observation in the medical ward at Los Angeles's Twin Towers jail, and her small cell is in full view of jail officials who are monitoring her around the clock.

A Hilton insider told the New York Daily News: "She was absolutely terrified that one of the guards or staffers would get her with the cell-phone cam and it would wind up on the Internet."

"She didn't eat or drink a single thing for three days because she didn't want to use the toilet. She was in real danger."

The heiress was comforted by her sister Nicky Hilton and her sometime boyfriend Stavros Niarchos, who visited the Twin Towers detention centre over the weekend.

"She's being strong," Nicky said as she walked out of the jail.

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Paris' sister Nicky Hilton and her sometime boyfriend Stavros Niachros tried to boost the heiress' spirits

She is allowed visitors only two days a week, yet her parents, Kathy and Rick, were yesterday seen going to church instead - perhaps to pray for their wayward daughter.

Mrs Hilton said they would not visit as Nicky was there and there was only a 30-minute slot.

Fellow visitors complained that Nicky and Stavros received special treatment by guards and were allowed to jump the two hour long queue

Hilton announced that she had told her lawyers not to appeal against her return to prison and instead vowed to serve her time although it was "by far the hardest thing I have ever done".

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Hilton's billionaire grandfather donated money last year to the sheriff who released the 26-year-old heiress from jail.

William Barron Hilton, 78, co-chairman of the Hilton Hotel chain, made a contribution of around £500 to Sheriff Lee Baca's re-election campaign - the maximum allowed by law - according to financial records.

Was it right to send Paris back to jail? Join the debate in readers' comments below...

The friend said: "A member of her family has been a contributor to Baca's campaign and this may have been payback time.

"Her entourage initially were confident she would be out of jail in a few days."

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A tearful Paris is taken to court on Friday

Sheriff Baca has faced heavy criticism for attempting to overrule the judge in the case.

His spokesman Steve Whitmore reacted angrily when The Mail on Sunday if Paris received special treatment because of the contribution, snapping, "Absolutely not."

Hilton left jail on Thursday, having served just three days of her sentence for flouting a drink-driving ban.

She was originally told she would spend 45 days in jail with no prospect of early release, although the term was later cut in half for good behaviour.

But when the outraged judge heard Hilton had been released to serve the remainder of the term at her luxury home, he ordered her to be sent back to jail.

He also said she must serve the full 45-day sentence.

Sheriff Baca has been accused of favouritism towards the Hollywood elite in the past.

Celebrities including Sylvester Stallone and Dustin Hoffman have backed his election campaigns since 1998.

Last summer, Sheriff Baca was at the centre of a row when he failed to report Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade after he was arrested for drink-driving.

Gibson had filmed TV adverts for one of Sheriff Baca's pet causes - an education fund for policemen's children.

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Under fire: Sheriff Lee Baca

Hilton's early release has led Baca's own employees to criticise him.

Steve Remige, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, which represents 9,000 deputies, said: "Outward appearances seem to be that the sheriff does lean toward favouritism of the rich and famous."

Baca, 65, insists he released Hilton because she was suffering from a worsening medical problem.

He said: "My biggest concern was basically her deterioration."