A Mozambican prisoner who had been released on parole broke back into jail after discovering he didn't like life on the outside, state media reported on Wednesday.

Camilo Antonio, 28, was released from the Manica Agricultural Penitentiary in central Mozambique after serving half the 10-year prison sentence he had received for the 2004 murder of his stepfather, Noticias newspaper said.

But Antonio had trouble finding work and feared his stepfather's family would try to kill him. So he broke back into jail by tearing down part of the prison wall.

He was then arrested for destruction of property and received a one-year sentence.

"To me, prison is the safest place," Antonio told Noticias.

"I don't want to live in jail, but at this stage in my life it's the best place I've found."

AFP