Kerry Katona arrives at court accused of ‘letting her children skip school’

Kerry Katona has arrived at court this afternoon over allegations that one of her five children has not attended enough days at school. 

The Atomic Kitten singer stuck her tongue out as she turned up at Brighton Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge of failing to send one of her children to lessons on a regular basis.

It comes two weeks after she was warned she could face jail after she failed to turn up to a previous hearing. 

After her no show on February 20, the hearing was adjourned until today, and a letter was sent to her warning her she could be tried in her absence and a prison sentence passed.   

Katona, who lives in the East Sussex town of Crowborough, said in an email to the court that she could not attend because she had a prior engagement in Scotland.

She wrote: ‘I have been booked for a paid appearance in Scotland for which members of the public have already paid.’

Gareth Jones, prosecuting, told the court today: ‘It is an imprisonable offence. She didn’t provide any evidence of the engagement.

‘But, as she is a media personality, there probably is some truth in it. If she doesn’t attend on the new date, we will seek to prove in absence and seek a warrant.’ 

Before her expected appearance last month, Katona, who has five children from three marriages in total – posted a picture on Instagram wishing her daughter Heidi a happy 12th birthday.

She also posted an image of three self-help books, saying: ‘Knowledge is power! Educate yourself… follow your dream! Always trying to be a better version of myself’

Katona, pictured alongside a friend as she arrived at court this afternoon, said in an email to the court last month that she could not attend because she had a prior engagement in Scotland

MailOnline was told Katona was picked up by car at 6am on the day of her appearance last month, then flew by herself to Scotland at 9am for a motivational speaking event in Ayrshire.

She was due to talk about her own experiences with overcoming adversity at the event hosted by Serenity NLP Hypnotherapy & Coaching. 

The I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here! 2004 winner faced the same charges in 2017 when she took her family on holiday to Barbados and failed to pay a fine.

Following a hearing at the same court, Katona wrote on Instagram: ‘Just to clear this whole thing regards to the children going away on holiday in February this was not me. Their dad took them away to Barbados. The matter has all been sorted.’ 

Katona divorced first husband Brian McFadden in 2006 after a four-year marriage.

But Katona insists they have developed a close friendship over the ensuing 13 years, and has even cheered him on from the studio audience during his involvement with ITV show Dancing On Ice. 

After doomed marriages to McFadden, taxi driver Mark Croft and George Kay, Katona now has her sights set on a new relationship after signing up for Celebs Go Dating on E4. 

Daughter Molly, 17, had harboured concerns about her mother taking part – and warned her not to kiss every man she dates.