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Celebrities
Liam O'Dell
Dec 15, 2021
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 d… https://t.co/wc18EMjiSg— Mr Cellophane (@Mr Cellophane) 1639575407
So this was Katie Price's 6th driving offence, twice over the limit, drugs in her system, driving on a ban and no i… https://t.co/3IZrv8GlwP— The VIP CPO (@The VIP CPO) 1639578732
Who thinks Katie Price should get jail time for drunk driving whilst suspended and without Insurance. She can’t use… https://t.co/xQRoKkFuyg— Gail Slinn (@Gail Slinn) 1639315869
My cousin was killed by a drink-driver leaving her 4-year-old daughter orphaned. The little girl was later adopted… https://t.co/TjliAspX6y— Leda Reynolds (@Leda Reynolds) 1639577500
So Katie Price gets a suspended sentence. The judge says 'you think you're above the law'. Apparently she is 🤬 #katieprice— Ali (@Ali) 1639578952
So many bad things happen to Katie Price - plus the accidentally drink driving with no insurance I mean ordinary… https://t.co/o5II67QN3a— Will Black (@Will Black) 1639576042
6th serious driving offence and Katie Price yet again avoids jailtime. Disgusting. Me or you would have been chucke… https://t.co/FLWxalSUOr— Janet L Ellis🇬🇧🥂⚽️⭐⭐ (@Janet L Ellis🇬🇧🥂⚽️⭐⭐) 1639580445
Katie Price needs to spend Christmas in prison. Why should the laws not apply to her?— Terry O'Connor 🥊 (@Terry O'Connor 🥊) 1639554836
Judge to Katie Price, “you seem to think you are above the law” then proves that she is by letting her off ??— David McDonagh (@David McDonagh) 1639581024
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… https://t.co/MnUjiUetrb— Sue Mac (@Sue Mac) 1639582591
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.