Katie Price signed off from court appearances as she’s ‘not mentally strong’-Laura Harman-Entertainment – Metro

Katie Price has defended missing her bankruptcy court appearances (Picture: Rex)

Katie Price has revealed that she is ‘not mentally strong enough’ to attend bankruptcy court appearances.

The 45-year-old declared bankruptcy for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill of £761,994.

The former model raised eyebrows when she skipped a bankruptcy hearing, and was snapped with her boyfriend at £760-a-night hotel.

She has now spoken out to defend herself on her podcast, The Katie Price Show, revealing that she was signed off court activities by her consultant.

Discussing the decision, Katie shared that she was actually was on a ‘cheap holiday’ for a mental health break with her boyfriend, JJ Slater – who appeared on Married at First Sight.

‘Everyone is like “Oh she’s missed bankruptcy and she’s gone on holiday!” No, let me address it,’ she began.

‘The court knew that I wasn’t going to my bankruptcy, because mentally – my consultant at The Priory – I’ve been signed off for any kind of activity for court. 

‘I’m mentally not strong enough at the moment to stand in court, be cross examined in front of the media, in front of the public.’ 

The star, who declared bankruptcy for the first time in 2019, also insisted that she was taking this issue seriously.

‘I am taking my bankruptcy so serious, like I do everything else. It’s a very serious situation I’m in and it does look like, “Oh she’s just gone on holiday”,’ she said.

The star launched her podcast in 2023 (Picture: Instagram)

‘No, my head at the moment needs a break. I had four days in my diary where I was able to go away.

‘You’ve got the words from me here. When I say I’m not mentally able and stable into court at the moment because I have a lot of things going on behind the scenes I’m dealing with. 

‘Hence, I haven’t been on TikTok for months, since December, I’m only doing what my body and brain can let me do at the moment.’

Katie reiterated that she was placing importance on the court case, vowing: ‘I am taking the bankruptcy seriously. It’s not like I’ve jetted off on a bloody five-star holiday.’

She also shared that she was given a discounted price on her hotel and didn’t spend that much on the ‘cheap’ four-day holiday.

The star shared images with her boyfriend in Aiya Napa (Picture: Instagram)

The mom-of-five explained that she won’t be attending another upcoming hearing due to her mental health – while she works out being signed off from court.

She added: ‘I’m not in a £760 a night hotel either. It’s not my fault that my friend came to this hotel a week before me and told them I was coming and told them to look after me. So when I came here they upgraded me for nothing!

‘Before I went away on holiday I had [a] conversation with my trustees who handle both of my bankruptcies and explained fully my situation. Since then I’ve had a letter from them and a letter from court.

‘[My consultant] has now given a list of things I need to do to discharge me and suspend me from this which has to be signed off by a lawyer. I’m back today, I have the appointments with my consultant, my therapist and everyone around me who will be signing me off legally.’

Price has been dating JJ for the past few months (Picture: Instagram)

It was heard last week that the reality TV star could be arrested, and her assets seized, if she fails to attend more court appearances.

In a written submissions Darragh Connell, representing the trustees, said: ‘The respondent should be in no doubt that any future non-attendance without a reasonable excuse will constitute contempt of court and necessitate an application for a warrant for her arrest.’

‘It is clear that the evidence filed very late is of a variety that is deeply, deeply unsatisfactory and we are in a very serious situation as a consequence.’

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