Paris Hilton leaves the Los Angeles County Correctional Facility in Lynwood, California June 26, 2007. Hotel heiress Hilton, who commanded as much attention behind bars as on the Hollywood party scene, regained her freedom on Tuesday after serving three weeks in jail for violating probation in a drunk-driving case.(Xinhua/Reuters) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Hotel heiress Paris Hilton regained her freedom early Tuesday after serving 23 days in a Los Angeles-area jail for violating her probation on a reckless driving conviction, U.S. media reported on Tuesday.

    With the paparazzi swarming around her, Hilton walked past several sheriff's deputies into a waiting SUV with her parents inside. She left the jail at about 15 minutes after midnight.

    Hilton went to her grandparents' home in the Benedict Canyon area of Beverly Hills.

    "This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done," she said in a statement. "I have had a lot of time to reflect, and have already learned a bitter, but important lesson from this experience."

    Hilton was sentenced last month by a Los Angeles judge to 45 days in jail for driving on a suspended license in violation of her probation in a drunken driving case -- which was reduced to about 23 days for " her good behavior."

    Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was accused of giving Hilton the star treatment when he tried to reassign her to home confinement after just three days in jail, citing an undisclosed medical condition. A judge ordered her back to jail the next day.

    Baca said that because of her celebrity status, Hilton actually received harsher punishment than most people convicted of the same offenses.

(Agencies)

    Paris Hilton to do 1st post-jail interview

    Jailed socialite Paris Hilton will give her first post-prison interview on veteran CNN newsman Larry King's show on Wednesday, the cable network has confirmed. Full story

    Paris Hilton to serve more time in jail

    Paris Hilton will have to serve more time in jail than most inmates sent to L.A. County Jail for similar offenses, according to media reports Wednesday. Full story

    Officials ask report on Paris Hilton's release

    Officials here asked Tuesday for a report on why Hollywood celebrity and hotel heiress Paris Hilton was sent home from jail last week, amid persistent claims that local law enforcement gave the socialite preferential treatment. Full story

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    The remark was made in a telephone call Sunday with Barbara Walters, in which Hilton described her brief spell behind bars last week -- after which she was released and then sent back to jail by an outraged judge. Full story

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