Katie Price walks free from court after being arrested at airport – but she’ll have to return in just days
KATIE Price has walked free from court following a bankruptcy hearing – just hours after being detained at Heathrow Airport.
But the former glamour model, 46, was ordered to attend a further hearing later in August with “no ifs or buts”.
The mum-of-three was wearing a beige outfit and a black head covering as she left the High Court in London on Friday.
Price was mocked by a judge who told her “it doesn’t take Einstein” after she moaned about the cost of her court battle.
She was asked to agree to two undertakings – to attend court again at the Rolls Building at 10.30am on August 27 and to provide documents when asked for them by the trustees’ lawyer.
Katie replied: “Yeah, I will do that, them two undertakings.”
She was released from custody and had the warrant discharged.
The judge told her: “You have to attend that date, no ifs or buts, no holidays, no going abroad, you have to attend that date.”
Price said she wanted to attend the next hearing remotely saying: “I find it difficult in court. I have been assessed by another high court.”
Judge Daniel Schaffer said she must make an application to do so and that she should seek legal advice.
Price responded: “Now with the legal advice, I tried to get legal advice but I’ve been charged £50,000 up front.
“Now being in a bankruptcy at the moment, the bankruptcy is taking 40 per cent.
“I’m finding it difficult to do that. I can’t get even legal aid because I earn.”
The judge told her she simply needed a solicitor which should cost no more than £500.
And he snapped: “This is a discreet application. It doesn’t take Einstein to do it.”
At one point Price – wearing protective surgical headgear – cradled her legs with her feet on her chair when appearing via video link in custody from the nearby Royal Courts of Justice building.
When told the date of the next hearing, Price said: “I’ll move my diary for it.
“I have other court stuff in the diary but this is obviously important.”
When the hearing ended, she wished the judge a good day and said: “Thank you.”
The judge warned Price that she faces being nicked again if she fails to comply.
He said: “These undertakings are undertakings to the court – meaning if you breach the undertakings in any way, shape or form, you will be brought back into custody.”
The court appearance comes just hours after she was arrested upon her arrival back to the UK following a trip to Turkey.
She was detained after a High Court judge issued a warrant for her arrest when she failed to appear at court last Tuesday.
Footage emerged last night showing her being confronted by cops and escorted to a police van as she stepped off a British Airways flight.
She had been remanded into custody to appear at court today, but was granted bail in the middle of the night by an out-of-hours magistrate.
The Sun understands she was released on medical grounds after undergoing her sixth facelift just days ago in Turkey.
Price flew out of the UK just hours before she had been due to appear in court as part of her ongoing £760,000 bankruptcy battle.
She then underwent £10,000 worth of surgery on her eyes and under her chin after her usual surgeon refused to carry out the work for her.
Despite the warrant for her arrest, she was seen enjoying her holiday as she soaked up sun at a five-star hotel in Istanbul.
Price herself said she was aware she would be arrested upon her return to the UK from holiday.
Katie Price's full statement
I would just like to thank everyone that has been showing support and compassion to my situation this week with my pending arrest.
Despite what has been misreported I am now in route back from filming my documentary.
I was never just abroad being ignorant to what’s going on and I stand by the facts, which is that there has been miscommunications here between a number of people here to do with my bankcruptcy.
However now I am returning home from work, and I am aware that I am about to be detained at the airport which is obviously what the courts feel is necessary.
I do hope of course for my sons sake who is with me that they will allow some dignity and protection for at least his sake as this will be extremely disturbing for him to see.
Whilst I understand the importance and severity of the matter I do feel like I am being treated like a criminal.
I would like to point out once again that this is to do with a very unfortunate financial circumstance which as hard as it has been does not make a criminal or a bad person.
Millions of people suffer losses and go through bankruptcy’s, through many different reasons and mine was due to serious mental health issues and breakdowns from PTSD.
Whilst it’s been hard, I repeatedly will stand by the fact I am not embarrassed or ashamed that this has happened to me.
People loose their lives every day over the embarrassment and fear of these situations and the public bullying l’ve endured on this matter is simply just not ok. I will continue to speak out on this and not be ashamed.
I have and am continuing to pay back debtors as ordered by the court.
I will address this with the police and courts when I land and I ask for my son Harvey’s sake it’s handled with care and compassion.
I am after all only a human being I appreciate all of you that continue to show me love it means a lot.
In a statement begging for son Harvey’s “protection”, she said: “I am aware that I am about to be detained at the airport which is obviously what the courts feel is necessary.
“I do hope of course for my son’s sake who is with me that they will allow some dignity and protection for at least his sake.”
Price added: “This will be extremely disturbing for him to see.
“Whilst I understand the importance and severity of the matter I do feel like I am being treated like a criminal.”
Just hours before her arrest, Price begged fans for money on OnlyFans.
She took to her Instagram Stories yesterday, urging her 2.7 million followers to check out her content on the X-rated platform.
Price was declared bankrupt in November 2019 and again in March this year.
At a hearing in February, she was ordered to pay 40 per cent of her monthly income from the adult entertainment website OnlyFans over the next three years in relation to her first bankruptcy.
She was then declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill worth more than £750,000.
Issuing the warrant last week, Judge Burton said Katie failed to make the payments ordered by the court.
“She has no real excuse in failing to attend the hearing,” she said. “The reason for her absence is irrelevant.”
Katie was served an eviction notice ordering her to leave her £2million Mucky Mansion by the end of May as bailiffs swooped.
She was supposed to hand over her six cars – a Volkswagen Beetle, a Nissan, two Range Rovers, Suzuki Vitara and Infiniti FX50 – on July 5.
The star also indicated she would hand over her pink Range Rover but has so far failed to do so, the court was told.
Timeline: Katie Price's court history
This is not Katie’s first run in with the law. Here we break down the former glamour model’s past court appearances.
2010:
Katie was issued a six-month driving ban for speeding and using her phone while driving.
2015:
The star received a £1,220 fine for jumping a red light.
2018:
She was slapped with a six-month driving ban in February 2018.
Katie was in jail for 13 hours for being found asleep behind the wheel of her car.
2019:
A year later the star was issued with her third driving ban for three months.
She was declared bankrupt for the first time.
2021:
Katie crashed her car while under the influence of alcohol and drugs and suffered a breakdown.
2022:
Katie was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 150 hours of community service for driving matters.
She pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order and was ordered to pay £1500.
2024:
MARCH– She was declared bankrupt a second time.
APRIL – The star was warned she risks jail after failing to appear in court.
JULY – An arrest warrant was issued after she again swerved court.
AUGUST – Katie reveals she will be arrested when she lands in the UK and begs for support over son Harvey’s protection