Many people think she should be behind bars after flipping her car while drunk, banned and high. But a grinning Katie Price was instead out today picking holly with her children and terminally-ill mother.
With the prospect she would not be spending Christmas behind bars, the former glamour model, 43, enjoyed some quality time with her son Jett, eight, Bunny, seven, and her terminally-ill mum Amy, 69.
The family headed out for a country walk in West Sussex and were pictured collecting holly in a Sainsbury’s bag to make a festive arrangement.
The outing comes after Katie was handed a 16-week suspended sentence and two-year driving ban on Wednesday for flipping her uninsured BMW X5 into a hedge while disqualified and under the influence on a country lane near her home in West Sussex on September 28.
Handing down the sentence, a Crawley Magistrates’ Court judge slammed Katie for her ninth motoring offence, telling her: ‘You deserve to spend Christmas behind bars.’
Drink-driving campaigners said they were ‘gobsmacked’ by the ‘unbelievable’ sentence, but the judge said Price would avoid going to jail because she completed a stint at celebrity rehab clinic The Priory and stayed out of trouble.
Grinning: Katie Price has been seen for the first time since she was spared jail for driving while drunk, banned and high on drugs during her court appearance on Wednesday (pictured with daughter Bunny, seven)
Pictured: With the prospect she would not be spending Christmas behind bars, Katie Price, 43, enjoyed some quality time with her son Jett, eight, Bunny, seven, and her terminally-ill mum Amy, 69, on Saturday
Following the sentencing, the television personality’s ex-husband Kieran Hayler, 34, who is Jett and Bunny’s father, said mother-of-five Katie is ‘lucky’ she was spared jail and as parents they had to ‘bring their children up to learn they should not break the law’.
Kieran told The Sun: ‘It is one of the most serious things you can get done for on the road short of killing someone. It is so serious.’
The former body builder, who split with Katie in 2018 over allegations of infidelity, went on to say that she was ‘very lucky’ to be getting off.
He added: ‘She knew she was getting off. I’m not sure if her lawyers had already told her that, but she is very, very lucky. She should be going to prison.’
Dressed in a blue quilted jacket, red wellies and black leggings, Katie looked relieved to be spending time with her two youngest children and Amy, who wore an oxygen tank on her back.
Freedom: The family headed out for a country walk in West Sussex and were pictured collecting holly to make a festive arrangement
Shock: The outing comes after Katie was handed a 16-week suspended sentence and two-year driving ban at Crawley Magistrates’ Court after she flipped her BMW while drunk, banned and high on a country lane near her home in September
Amy was diagnosed with Idopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2017. The condition scars the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe – there is currently no cure.
The star’s mother Amy, sister Sophie and fiancé Carl Woods, have supported her after the crash and subsequent stint at The Priory.
They, however, remain concerned for Katie, MailOnline understands.
‘They are naturally relieved she wasn’t sent to prison’, a source said. ‘But there is a concern that Katie checked out of rehab a bit early and that she hasn’t yet given herself enough time to recover.
Close network: The star’s family, including her mother Amy, sister Sophie and fiancé Carl Woods, have supported her after the crash and subsequent stint at The Priory
Quality family time: Katie smiled as she talked to Bunny who foraged for holly in the countryside
Walk: Katie’s mum Amy wore an oxygen tank on her back. Amy was diagnosed with Idopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2017. The condition scars the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe – there is currently no cure
‘All everyone who cares for Katie wants is for her to get back to her best and to be happy and healthy.
‘Carl [Woods] has told everyone he will be stepping up. He was prepared to stand by Katie whatever happened in court. But Carl can only do so much.
‘The only person who can help Katie, is Katie, and she needs to step up now and make this second chance she’s been given count. That’s what she is determined to do but this is Katie and time will tell.’
Narrow escape: Katie escaped with a suspended prison sentence because she complied with a requirement to attend the £6,800-a-week rehab centre – despite going out shopping while staying at the facility
Katie escaped with a suspended prison sentence because she complied with a requirement to attend the £6,800-a-week rehab centre – despite going out shopping while staying at the facility.
The former glamour model was told by a judge that she deserved to spend Christmas behind bars after committing her ninth motoring offence.
Following her court appearance, Katie released a statement saying she is ‘incredibly sorry’ and ‘sincerely grateful nobody was hurt’.
Sentencing: Katie pictured leaving Crawley Magistrates’ Court with Carl in West Sussex on Wednesday afternoon
Grovelling apology: Following her court appearance, Katie released a statement saying she is ‘incredibly sorry’ and ‘sincerely grateful nobody was hurt’
In a statement on her Instagram page, Katie issued a grovelling apology and said she ‘realised the damage my actions could have caused’.
She added: ‘I would like to thank my family – my children, my mum, dad, sister, brother, my partner Carl, Leigh, and my friends who have supported me throughout these past few months
‘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.
His say: Following the sentencing, the television personality’s ex-husband Kieran Hayler, 34, who is Jett and Bunny’s father, said mother-of-five Katie is ‘lucky’ she was spared jail
‘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.’
The crash happened on September 28, with police arresting Katie on the scene before taking her to hospital.
Tests showed the television personality had 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – nearly double the legal limit of 35mcg.
She also tested positive for cocaine on a wipe. An image shared by police from the scene showed a car flipped on its side, and after the crash her family expressed concern for her wellbeing.
John Scruby, a trustee of the Campaign Against Drink Driving charity, told MailOnline the sentencing was ‘another case of a celebrity twisting the rules to escape justice’, adding the average person facing drink driving charges ‘cannot afford to go to a £6,000-a-week rehab centre’.
He also accused the reality star of ‘trying to play the victim’ in a case where ‘she is only a victim of her own stupidity and selfishness’.
The crash: It happened on September 28, with police arresting Katie on the scene before taking her to hospital. Tests showed the television personality had 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – nearly double the legal limit of 35mcg