Katie Price reveals she snorted cocaine as her way of coping with the failure of her five-year marriage to Kieran Hayler

KATIE Price has dramatically admitted snorting cocaine as she struggled with the collapse of her five-year marriage.

The Loose Women star, 40, turned to the drug and booze while her relationship with third hubby Kieran Hayler, 31, deteriorated.

A source said: “It was her way of blotting things out. She was in a tough place emotionally but knows that is no excuse.

“She is ashamed of what she did.”

Katie confided in pals that she self-medicated after sex-addict hubby Kieran’s behaviour and their relationship woes “drove her to the edge”.

The model, who caught him cheating three times, became “severely depressed” at the collapse of their marriage.

But Katie said she had cleaned up her act now she is dating ­fitness instructor Kris Boyson.

A source said: “Katie has admitted she dabbled in cocaine to numb her pain.

“Her behaviour got a bit wild and she was boozing too much, and on a couple of occasions took cocaine.

The drug is obviously quite widespread in certain social circles and friends introduced her to it.

“She used it when she’d been drinking and it was her way of coping, to blot things out.

“She was in a tough place emotionally, but knows that is no excuse. She is ashamed of what she did and has taken swift action to clean up her act.

“She just did cocaine socially and did not have a habit or a problem. Her kids were never exposed to it.”

Katie’s devoted mum Amy, 64, played a key role in forcing the star to sort out her behaviour.

A source said: “Katie realised she had to sort herself out for the sake of the kids. She hasn’t touched anything for months.”

Our exclusive pictures show Katie, in red gym kit and with toned midriff, going for a workout with Kris, 29, in Ashford, Kent.

The source added: “People think the relationship with Kris is a bad idea but he’s been a great influence. He is really into his fitness and has a healthy diet, and it has rubbed off on her.

“She is getting fit and healthy and is in a much more positive frame of mind.

“She is refocusing on looking after her children and concentrating on work, as she knows she has the responsibility to do her best for the kids.”

Loose Women panellist Katie’s life began to spiral out of control in August when she discovered 31-year-old Kieran’s fling with their nanny Nikki Brown, 41.

She sobbed as she said: “Kieran told me they were f***ing all over my house for a year. They even did it in the kids’ bathroom.” Although she forgave ex-stripper Kieran his cheating had taken its toll.

He previously had affairs with Katie’s then-pals Jane Pountney, 52, and Chrissy Thomas.

In September Katie learned Amy was terminally ill with lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

In an interview with The Sun on Sunday Katie, who also suffered a miscarriage last year, said: “It is difficult to cope, I do worry about what tomorrow brings.”

In March, suspicious Katie unlocked Kieran’s phone with his fingerprint when he was asleep to check his texts.

And she discovered messages with an ex, as well as Co-op worker Chloe Bull, 19.

Katie is said to have immediately kicked Kieran out of the bedroom into the spare room, and described him as a “lost cause”. Our source said: “This was what ended their marriage, rather than the earlier affair with Nikki.

“Katie decided it was over and there was no going back.

“But she struggled to get Kieran to move out, and he actually moved his belongings out in stages.

“Things got really difficult at home, and they were not really communicating properly.

“Kieran was still doing a lot around the home, and doing stuff for all five children.

“But, as their relationship was effectively over, Katie spent a lot more time with her friends.

“That is when her problems really started. She was also drinking at home on occasion, having wine and vodka.”

Katie has two children with Kieran, son Jett, four, and three-year-old daughter Bunny. She is also mum to Harvey, 16, with ex-footballer Dwight Yorke, plus first husband Peter Andre’s children Princess, 11, and Junior, 13.

The source explained: “It was hard to split with Kieran quickly and cleanly because of the situation with their children and the other kids. That had an effect on Katie, and things got a bit out of control.

“She felt under pressure on all fronts — with work as she’s the breadwinner, home life and relationship troubles.”

Katie sought medical help several months ago to get her through her problems. Her treatment included counselling, which is said to have given her the strength to make Kieran move out, and help her cope with her mother’s condition.

The source added: “Katie knew she had to do something to pull herself out of the hole. She has really sorted herself out.”

We told in May how Katie posted a saucy Snapchat picture of herself as a pal drove her to a date with Brighton footballer Shane Duffy, 26.

Her pink Range Rover was spotted outside his home the next day.

But that romance fizzled out and Katie moved on to Kris.

They struck up a romance after meeting at an Essex club on May 10.

They made the relationship public when they travelled to Bruges to celebrate Katie’s 40th birthday on May 22.

Days later Kieran, who had been spending time at his gran’s, moved out permanently from Katie’s West Sussex mansion.

She is said to have told pals she was relieved when he left and to have said “good riddance” as he drove off.

Reality star Kris stayed the next weekend, and has been spending more and more time with Katie. Our source said: “Katie thinks he is a ‘keeper’.

“People may scoff at the relationship and the 11-year age gap, but she is the happiest she has been for some time. She’s been out running and to the gym with Kris helping her with a routine.

“This has had a really positive effect on her work, home life and the kids.”

This week Katie, wed to second hubby Alex Reid from 2010-11, attacked Kieran on social media and accused him of dating the mum of a pupil at Jett’s school.

She claimed the romance had been going on “for months” and suggested her children recognised the woman, named Michelle.

Katie wrote on Instagram: “I’m happy for her but he will cheat on her too!

“I want it amicable and want every parent to know I know they have been together months!”

At the same time she posted a romantic snap of Kris and called him a “gentleman who puts a smile on my face every day”.

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