Katie Price ‘grateful nobody was hurt’ after she was spared jail term for drink-driving

Katie Price has said she is “sincerely grateful nobody was hurt” after she avoided being sent to jail for drink-driving while disqualified and not having insurance following a crash near her Sussex home.

The 43-year-old, who was handed a 16-week suspended sentence on Wednesday for the offence, said she was “incredibly sorry” for her actions.

Ms Price was not given a jail term because she had complied with the requirements of the court, including attending a rehabilitation centre and not committing further offences, District Judge Amanda Kelly at Crawley Magistrates’ Court said.

But police are considering an appeal against the sentence given to the former glamour model, saying she is "extremely lucky not to be spending Christmas behind bars".

In a statement on her Instagram story, Ms Price thanked her friends and family, including partner Carl Wood, for their support.

She said: “It’s been a really difficult time and I’m incredibly sorry for my actions – I’m sincerely grateful nobody was hurt – I realise the damage my actions could have caused not only to another family, but to my own as well.

“I’m now spending time getting better — mental health is a hidden illness and can strike at any time.

“The triggers that cause my anxiety and behaviour are something I’m trying to understand, come to terms with, and learn to control moving forward.

“This will be a long process for myself and something I’ll continue to work on for the rest of my life. It’s also something I can work on with my family so we can progress on a new chapter together.

“Thank you for all the messages of goodwill that I’ve received. I’m going to surround myself with my loving family and friends and continue doing the work I love as it brings me enjoyment and helps my mental health.”

Superintendent James Collis, head of roads policing for Sussex Police and Surrey Police, said the sentencing “as the judge explained, could have and should have been much worse and, in our view, Price is”.

“Given the circumstances and her history of motoring offences, it’s clear she did not consider the risk of her actions to the wider public or the implications for her own family,” he added.

Ms Price was given a 16-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months, a two-year driving ban, 100 hours of unpaid work, 20 sessions of rehabilitation work with probation, and was ordered to pay £213.

District Judge Kelly told the court that Price already owes £7,358 in relation to previous offences.

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