Katie Price arrives at Crawley Magistrates’ Court (Ian West/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Media personality Katie Price avoided being put behind bars for Christmas on Wednesday, when a judge handed her a 16-week suspended jail sentence for driving while disqualified and without insurance.
The 43-year-old was involved in a crash near her Sussex home on 28 September – a collision which has also seen her banned from driving for two years.
Crawley Magistrates’ Court was told a drugs wipe came back positive for cocaine, while a roadside breath test identified 66mgs of alcohol in the star’s system.
Price had previously admitted the offences when she appeared at the court a day after the crash. Her sentencing was adjourned on the condition she received treatment at the Priory Centre, did not re-offend, and did not get behind the wheel before the next hearing.
The reality star met these conditions, which led District Judge Amanda Kelly to say 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,” she said.
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They weren’t the only harsh words delivered to Price by DJ Kelly, who informed the court that the celebrity has previously been banned from driving on five occasions.
“You appear to think that you are above the law. You have one of the worst driving records I have seen,” she commented.
Twitter users have also been critical of the star’s actions and sentence following the news:
The Katie Price verdict as to whether she'll be jailed for her sixth driving offence, including drunk driving and driving while disqualified is important because if she gets away with it then it's yet another message that the rules don't apply to the rich and famous.
— Mr Cellophane (@MrCellophane121) December 15, 2021
So this was Katie Price's 6th driving offence, twice over the limit, drugs in her system, driving on a ban and no insurance but avoids jail.......interesting legal system we have.
— The VIP CPO (@TheVIPCPO) December 15, 2021
Who thinks Katie Price should get jail time for drunk driving whilst suspended and without Insurance. She can’t use Harvey or her mums illness anymore she needs to pay the same as anyone else. Otherwise she will always think she’s above the law
— Gail Slinn (@Gailslinn) December 12, 2021
My cousin was killed by a drink-driver leaving her 4-year-old daughter orphaned. The little girl was later adopted but kept asking where her mummy was, unable to grasp the concept she was dead. All that heartbreak for a drink. No time for drink drivers like Katie Price
— Leda Reynolds (@Leda__Reynolds) December 15, 2021
So Katie Price gets a suspended sentence. The judge says 'you think you're above the law'. Apparently she is 🤬 #katieprice
— Ali (@realgammonchops) December 15, 2021
So many bad things happen to Katie Price - plus the accidentally drink driving with no insurance
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) December 15, 2021
I mean ordinary people don't have any stresses, pressures or tragedies befall them. Bad things only happen to rich people and so they deserve special treatment pic.twitter.com/I5r80LBTb3
6th serious driving offence and Katie Price yet again avoids jailtime. Disgusting. Me or you would have been chucked in jail after our 2nd offence 😡 it won't be long before she is behind the wheel again totally ignoring the law. Just hope she doesn't kill someone.
— Janet L Ellis🇬🇧🥂⚽️⭐⭐ (@kazbahellis) December 15, 2021
Katie Price needs to spend Christmas in prison. Why should the laws not apply to her?
— Terry O'Connor 🥊 (@TerryOConnorr) December 15, 2021
Judge to Katie Price, “you seem to think you are above the law” then proves that she is by letting her off ??
— David McDonagh (@davmcdngh) December 15, 2021
Katie Price should be in prison,shocking that she isn’t! if everyone in the UK decided to do what she did itd be a catastrophe & quickly stopped but yet its another rule for just her?! she’s a 90s glamor model why is she (or anyone) above the law! 6 bans!! SHOCKING & so dangerous
— Sue Mac (@suemcco11) December 15, 2021
Alongside receiving her sixth driving ban, Price was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, pay £213 and complete 20 sessions of rehabilitation work.
Addressing the court, defence lawyer Joe Harrington said her client was “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.”
“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.
