In a dramatic change of direction, former glamour model turned TV personality Katie Price has admitted breaching a restraining order against her ex-husband's fiancée.
Price, 44, of Worthing Road, Dial Post, Horsham, West Sussex, admitted the offence when she appeared at Lewes Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Wednesday, 25th May 2022.
The maximum penalty for breaching a restraining order is 5 years' custody.
The order was made at Horsham Magistrates' Court on 3rd June 2019. It prohibits Price from contacting Michelle Penticost, the fiancée of her ex-husband Kieran Hayler, by any means, either directly or indirectly, for a period of five years.
It was granted after Price was convicted of a playground bust-up with Ms Penticost and another woman, which was witnessed by school children and teachers.
The breach in question relates to a text message Price sent to Mr Hayler on 21st January 2022.
The message, which Price invited Mr Hayler to share with Ms Penticost, referred to her using a number of derogatory terms, the mildest of which was "gutter slag".
It should be noted that Price is already subject to a suspended sentence order, imposed on 15th December 2021 in relation to a driving with excess alcohol matter.
HHJ Stephen Mooney is dealing with matters today. He will be aware that the 16-week suspended custodial term will now need to be activated, probably in full, unless (and exceptionally) it is contrary to the interests of justice to do so.
In sentencing for the breach matter, he will also be mindful of Price's earlier denials and quite frankly abysmal record of compliance with court orders.
Having had a very cursory glance at the relevant sentencing guideline, the offence would appear to fall within category B2 with a starting point of 12 weeks' custody and range from a medium level community order up to 12 months' custody. The activated suspended period of custody would run consecutively to that.
Barrister Nicholas Hamblin, for Price, told the court that had it not been for the words "tell your" in the message then it would not have constituted a breach.
Mr Hamblin added: "It is very telling in this case that there is a great deal of background information which will need to be placed before the court.
"Much of it is in a therapist's report and the court would need to be updated about her current situation and indeed the matters which have taken up so much of her time and other people's time over quite a number of years.
"You will notice she has been subject to conditions of a suspended sentence.
"Part of my function will be to seek to persuade the court that in this case, because of the mitigation available it will be unjust to activate that suspended sentence."
Addressing Price, the Judge said: "Clearly you have accepted responsibility for this offence and that you indirectly tried to communicate Ms Penticost despite her restraining order against you.
"I must warn you Ms Price that you are at risk of going to prison."
Price was granted unconditional bail until her sentencing on Friday, 24th June 2022.
I hope she remembers to bring her overnight bag on that occasion.
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