Katie blames 'emotional rollercoaster' for her motoring madness as cops are investigating the Loose Women star
THIS is the moment Katie Price was caught driving while banned — with her two youngest children in the car.
The Loose Women star, 40, confessed to cops after she was alerted to pictures of her on the 24-mile journey home from Gatwick.
Her February speeding ban does not expire for two weeks. Breaching it carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and an unlimited fine.
Katie blamed an “emotional rollercoaster” for her crazy decision to drive while banned.
The troubled star, 40, climbed behind the wheel to travel home despite being disqualified.
Wracked with guilt she went to police after being shown photos of the offence.
Ex-glamour girl Katie later confessed on Instagram, explaining she had been driving son Harvey to hospital.
But we can reveal her moment of madness came with kids Jett, four, and Bunny, three, in the car — while a pal drove Harvey in another vehicle.
Katie copped a six-month ban on February 9 for speeding, meaning she cannot drive until August 8.
Last Wednesday a friend drove the star from her West Sussex home to Gatwick at 3pm in a 15-year-old Ford Fiesta Finesse.
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Another pal followed in a black Mini and they left the vehicles in the airport’s short-stay car park.
Katie and the three children caught a train to London, returning at 7.30pm.
She strapped Jett and Bunny — her kids with third hubby Kieran Hayler — into the Fiesta hatchback. Harvey, 16, got into the Mini with friends.
The Loose Women presenter, wearing camouflage leggings, rose-printed top and fluffy sandals, then got behind the wheel.
She started the engine before doing her hair and exchanged words with a friend, who had paid her parking ticket.
After putting on her sunglasses Katie reversed out of the parking bay and drove 24 miles to her mansion near Horsham, West Sussex, arriving at 8pm.
Explaining herself on Instagram at 9pm on Friday, Katie wrote: “Been on such an emotional rollercoaster the last 6 months and my head has been all over the place, so much so, that I thought my driving ban was up."
She continued: “With this on my conscience I called police and reported myself.”
Katie added: “I’ve come such a long way and I just want easy life now. I have got out of a hole and am finally happy and looking forward to being my old independent self!”
Sussex Police are understood to have visited her that day.
And yesterday road safety campaigners called for the star to be hit with the severest possible penalty for the offence — a six-month jail term.
Late on Friday night Katie was in the passenger seat as lover Kris Boyson, 29, drove her away from an appearance at Acapulco nightclub in Halifax, West Yorks.
The model has a string of motoring offences.
In June last year she was clocked doing 60mph on the 50mph A24 in her £75,000 purple Land Rover.
She failed to notify police when the speeding ticket came through. She was charged with failing to give driver information, and JPs gave her six penalty points.
Katie was also given a road ban because she previously had other offences on her licence.
The telly favourite did not turn up to Brighton magistrates’ court when she was convicted of both offences on January 12.
On February 9 she was banned for six months, handed a £750 fine, ordered to pay £200 costs and a £75 surcharge.
It is the second time she has been banned from driving.
The first was in September 2012 after failing to respond to two speeding tickets, arguing that her mum handled her post.
Katie has endured a traumatic year, including her split from Kieran. She is reportedly putting her £2million home on the market and is flogging belongings due to money woes.
Four weeks ago, The Sun on Sunday told how Katie turned to cocaine when her marriage to ex-stripper Kieran crumbled.
He allegedly had a fling with Katie’s former nanny Nikki Brown, 41. Kieran had previously had affairs with Katie’s then-pals Jane Pountney and Chrissy Thomas.
A month later she found out her mum Amy, 64, was terminally ill with lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 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, and their marriage ended.
In June The Sun on Sunday revealed her first husband Peter Andre had banned her from seeing their kids Junior, 13, and Princess, 11, after she returned to her partying ways.
Last week she was seen skinny-dipping on holiday with Kris in Thailand. She writhed around on the beach then tried to whip off his shorts. Yesterday the pair were seen shopping in Manchester where they popped into posh stores Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.
Driving while banned is frowned on by courts as it is seen as being in contempt of the original crime.
A six-month jail term can be dished out in the worst cases, along with a heavy fine and another road ban.
The AA’s Jack Cousens explained: “The penalties can be severe.
“First-time offenders tend to avoid a custodial sentence, but magistrates will weigh up the evidence and consider the circumstances before determining the sentence. Unlike some driving offences, you cannot accidentally drive whilst disqualified.
“It is a premeditated action and as such it is treated seriously by the courts.”
Howard Cox, of the FairFuelUK Campaign, said: “With most UK drivers adhering to safe and legal driving, it surpasses belief a minuscule minority such as this serial offender are risking the lives of innocents and even her own family when she gets behind the wheel.
“By continually putting her two selfish fingers up to the authorities, even when banned from driving, she must now warrant a custodial period behind bars or some sort of detention, to learn, once and for all, what she is doing is both anti-social and perilous.”
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Contact was made to say she had driven while disqualified.
“Officers are investigating.”
