Katie Price pleads guilty to driving while disqualified after drink-driving crash: ‘I took drugs’

Her family admitted that they have ‘for some time been concerned about Kate’s wellbeing and overall mental health’

Reality TV star Katie Price has pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving while disqualified after she was involved in a car crash near her home in Sussex.

The former glamour model, who appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, also admitted to driving without insurance following the collision in Horsham.

The court heard that, after being confronted by police at the scene, Ms Price was heard saying: “I took drugs, I should not be driving, I admit it all.” A drugs wipe gave a positive reading for cocaine, prosecutor Debbie Jones told the court.

The 43-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving while above the legal limit for alcohol and drugs, after crashing her car in the early hours of Tuesday morning. She was taken to hospital after the incident but was not seriously injured.

Sussex Police confirmed that they were called to the scene of a single-vehicle crash on the B2135 near Partridge Green at around 6:20am on Tuesday. A picture, published by The Sun, appeared to show a car flipped completely onto its side at the scene.

Speaking at the court hearing, defence solicitor Joe Harrington said: “[Katie] has had a lot of personal problems recently.

“Currently she is in the process of bankruptcy proceedings so her house may be repossessed. So quite a lot going on in this lady’s life, a really difficult period.”

Mr Harrington argued that the driving was a “one-off” incident. He added: “As I understand it she had been drinking, she was lonely and she decided to go and see a friend who lived a relatively short distance away and that is when the incident happened.”

The reality TV star’s sentencing has been deferred until 15 December to allow her to have treatment at the Priory Centre. Chair of the bench Julie Hutton gave Ms Price an interim driving ban at the hearing on Wednesday, warning her: “We regularly send people to prison for driving whilst disqualified.”

A statement from the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust described the incident, saying: “South East Coast Ambulance was called at approximately 6:30am to reports of an RTC on the B2135 at Partridge Green.

“One ambulance crew attended the scene and one person was assessed and treated before being taken to hospital”.

Addressing reports about the accident, Katie Price’s family said their “worst fears nearly came true” in a concerned social media post.

In a statement, posted to Katie Price’s Instagram account, her family admitted that they have “for some time been concerned about Kate’s wellbeing and overall mental health” and added that they “will continue to help Kate get the help she needs”.

He family expressed their hopes that Ms Price would be able to recover away from the limelight, saying: “As a family we hope she can find her path privately moving forward during this very difficult period in her life. We are not asking for sympathy – just that it is recognised that Kate is unwell.”

They also encouraged fans to send messages of support to the reality star and promised to pass them on “in the hope that these positive messages will help spur her on”.

Katie Price’s partner Carl Woods also posted a message on his Instagram account saying: “Relationships are tested. People test each other – but when you love someone like I love Katie, you enjoy the highs and good times together, and that bond is tested during the low and difficult times together.

“Katie is a rough diamond. She has her imperfections however they make her perfect to me. She just needs that extra help to be polished. The sunlight will shine through her once again and the sparkles that she brings to everyone will return.

“I love you Kate 100 per cent. My Dolly. Always here. Always will be.”

The reported crash came just hours after she appeared on Good Morning Britain and spoke about the difficulty she has visiting her son Harvey because she’s been disqualified from driving.

She explained: “Harvey’s in Cheltenham now, he keeps ringing me saying: ‘Mummy I miss you, I need your kisses and cuddles’, so it is quite hard.

“Obviously I don’t get my licence back until December, so I can’t just whizz in the car down there and it’s not close.”