Katie Price spared jail after drink-driving crash while disqualified
Price’s vehicle was discovered by a member of the public.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Katie Price has been handed a 16-week suspended jail sentence for drink-driving while disqualified and without insurance following a crash near her home in Sussex.
The former glamour model, 43, was also banned from driving for two years over the collision on the B2135 near Partridge Green on September 28.
She was driving to visit a nearby friend when the crash occurred at around 6.20am.
Jonathan Karani, prosecuting, told the court that no witnesses to the incident have been identified.
Price’s vehicle was discovered by a member of the public.
When he approached the vehicle, which had been flipped onto its left side, he found Price slumped in the passenger’s seat. He pulled her out of the window.
Police arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. Price admitted that she should not have been driving.
“She said she was just going to a friend’s house”, Mr Karani said.
“She said ‘I know I should not have been driving but I did. I have been banned four times’.”
Mr Karani told the court that Price had five previous driving bans, rather than four.
Price was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital. While there she refused to have a blood test due to a fear of needles. A urine sample was taken, but it has yet to be tested, Mr Karani said.
At the hospital Price told police: “I had alcohol, I took drugs, I should not be driving, I admit it all.”
The court heard a drugs wipe gave a positive reading for cocaine and a roadside breath test was positive for 66mgs of alcohol.
An image shared by police from the scene showed a car flipped on its side.
Joe Harrington, defence, said: “This is a lady with a lot of things going on. She has five children who she has contributed greatly to the care of.
“In terms of her son Harvey she has been the only adult in his life.
“Between 2020-21 she had a serious accident, causing damage to her heels. She is also in the bankruptcy court.”
Mr Harrington told the court that “things tend to be quite complicated” with his client.
“It’s a complicated driving history. Things tend to be quite complicated with this lady. She does not deal with her problems, particularly with paperwork,” he added.
Price admitted the offences at a previous hearing at the same court on September 29.
At that hearing, her sentencing was adjourned on the condition that she have treatment at the Priory Centre, not commit any further offences, and be banned from driving in the interim.
Sentencing Price, District Judge Amanda Kelly said: “You appear to think that you are above the law.
“You have one of the worst driving records I have seen. You have been banned from driving on five occasions.
“The public may be appalled to hear that I can’t send you to jail today.
“But the law says that when a person has complied with the terms of their release then you have a legitimate expectation not to be sent to prison today, even though you deserve to spend Christmas behind bars.”
Price was given a 16-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months, a two-year driving ban, 100 hours unpaid work, 20 sessions of rehabilitation work with probation, and was ordered to pay £213.
DJ Kelly told the court that Price already owes the court £7358 in relation to previous offences.