Phil Spector beaten up by fellow inmate

Former record producer/songwriter Phil Spector is said to have been beaten by a fellow inmate at the state prison in Corcoran, Calif., after allegedly mouthing off.

Spector, 70, who was jailed in 2009 for actress Lana Clarkson's death, is said to have wound up with a bruised nose, black eye and the loss of a couple of teeth.

"Phil has quite a mouth on him," the New York Daily News quoted long-time pal and defender Steven Escobar as saying.

"Not everyone understands his humour. He said the wrong thing to the wrong inmate in the yard.

"At first, Phil said he fell down a flight of stairs. Later, he told family and friends what really happened," he said.

Another source close to Spector, who's serving 19-to-life for fatally shooting Clarkson in the mouth in 2003, said he picked on a guy bigger than him.

"He mouthed off to a big guy, who punched him," the source said.