'EXTREMELY LUCKY'
Katie Price under pressure from cops who want to APPEAL suspended sentence for drink-drive smash
KATIE Price faces more pressure after cops announced they want to APPEAL her suspended sentence for her drive-drive smash.
The reality star was driving to see a pal because she was "lonely" when she overturned her BMW in Horsham, West Sussex, in September.
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She narrowly avoided prison yesterday for flipping her car in a drink-drive crash - as a judge slammed her for believing she is "above the law".
But police now say they will try to appeal the sentence that saw her walk free from court with a suspended sentence.
James Collis, head of roads policing for Sussex Police and Surrey Police, said: “Today’s sentencing, as the judge explained, could have and should have been much worse and, in our view, Price is extremely lucky not to be spending Christmas behind bars.
“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.
“We are now exploring whether we can appeal this sentence.”
But a legal source said that despite Sussex Police's intentions, it would not be possible for the force to challenge the sentence.
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Price, 43, was already banned from driving when she got behind the wheel after taking cocaine and downing vodka and lemonades.
She was warned by JPs she could be facing jail when she pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving at Crawley Magistrates' Court.
The former glamour model also admitted one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving while disqualified at the hearing in September.
But she was instead handed a 16-week prison sentence suspended for a year, 100 hours community service and ordered to attend 20 rehab sessions.
Her driving ban was also extended for two years and she must pay £213 in costs on top of the £7,358 she already owes the court.
Sentencing, District Judge Amanda Kelly said: "When you chose to get behind the wheel that night you showed no concern for others.
"You could have killed somebody. Your actions meant the emergency services had to use up their precious time.
"You knowingly and deliberately flouted a court order and not for the first time.
"You seem to think you are above the law.";
The judge also said Price, who has six previous driving convictions, had "one of the worst driving records I have ever seen".
She added: “The public may well be appalled to know I am not able to send you to prison today… you deserve to spend Christmas behind bars.”
A judge blasted the former glamour model:
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- "You deserve to be spending Christmas behind bars."
- "You do have one of the worst driving records I have ever seen."
- "Your actions on that night were incredibly selfish."
- "You could have killed someone’s child, partner, parent or friend."
- "You appear to think, it seems, that you are above the law."
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a three-month sentence, possible driving ban and a £2,500 fine.
She was previously ordered to undertake treatment at the Priory and was slapped with an additional driving ban.
The mum-of-five jetted to Las Vegas with fiance Carl, 32, shortly after leaving the £2,000-a-week treatment centre.
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The court was told Price was left “trapped” in her BMW before a witness helped her out and waited for emergency services to arrive.
After being confronted by police at the scene, Price was heard saying "I took drugs, I should not be driving, I admit it all".
PREVIOUS DRIVING CONVICTIONS
KATIE Price has been banned from driving six times in the last ten years after a series of infringements.
OCTOBER 2003: Escapes a speeding charge on a technicality.
JUNE 2008: Given three points for talking on mobile.
JULY 2010: Four points for speeding at 99mph.
SEPTEMBER: Three points for veering from her lane in her 7½-ton pink horsebox.
DECEMBER: Six-month ban after three more points for doing 83mph in a 70mph zone takes her total to 13.
AUGUST 2012: 12-month ban after failing to respond to two speeding tickets.
FEBRUARY 2018: Banned for six months for failing to give details about the person driving her speeding car.
JULY: Quizzed by police for getting behind the wheel while still banned. Says she thought ban was over.
SEPTEMBER: Crashes her £63,000 Ranger Rover while allegedly on her mobile.
OCTOBER: Held for suspected drink-driving. Spent a night in the cells.
DECEMBER: Charged over the drink-drive allegation.
JANUARY 2019: Three month ban for driving while banned.
FEBRUARY: Further three months after another driving conviction.
AUTUMN: Issued with sixth ban, this time for two years. Cut to 18 months on appeal.
MARCH 2021: Drives boyfriend’s Range Rover. An admin error meant an extra six months under totting up rules had not been added. Questioned by police.
SEPTEMBER: Arrested after turning over car
Prosecutor Debbie Jones said a drugs wipe gave a positive reading for cocaine but a charge of driving while unfit through drugs was withdrawn by the court.
She was also found to have an alcohol level of 66mg when breathalysed. The legal limit is 35mg.
She made no comment when taken to the police station but claimed she was “lonely” and wanted to visit a friend who was close by.
Defence barrister Joe Harrington told the court: "This is a lady with an awful lot going on."
He referenced Price's five children as well as ongoing court matters with regards to bankruptcy.
He added: "Things tend to be complicated with this lady."
He added that it was a “one-off incident” and that she overcorrected her driving, which is what caused her to crash.
Explaining why she was spared jail today, Judge Kelly said: "The law says that when a person has complied with the terms of their release, then you have a legitimate expectation you will not be sent to prison today - even though you deserve to spend Christmas behind bars."
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The Campaign Against Drink Driving (CADD) blasted Price's suspended sentence as "beyond belief".
Trustee John Scruby, 61, a retired traffic cop, said: "When I heard she'd received a non-custodial sentence, I was absolutely gobsmacked.
"I am pretty sure it is only Price's celebrity status that has saved her.
"I'd like to invite her to speak to bereaved relatives left behind by drink-driving and tell them she is sorry.
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Katie Price's sister moans 'today's not been a good day' despite star swerving jail
"It's time for her to stop acting the spoilt little princess and grow up a bit."
Her crash came just hours after she spoke about her difficulty visiting son Harvey because she couldn't get behind the wheel.
Speaking on GMB she explained: "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."
Katie expected to get her driving licence back in April, but was banned for a further six months following an admin bungle.
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She served an 18-month disqualification after withholding the identity of the driver of her pink Range Rover during a crash in Bexley.
In the last ten years she has been banned from driving a total of six times.
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