Police are pouring over Katie Price's phone to see if she breached a restraining order - as she avoided appearing in court today over a £7,350 fine, with her family and friends fearing her future 'looks bleak'.
The reality TV star and ex-glamour model, 43, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of breaching her restraining order after she allegedly branded her ex-husband Kieran Hayler's fiancée Michelle Penticost a 'gutter sl*g' in 'abusive messages'.
She was released after a 12-hour interrogation, though not before officers confiscated her phone, which they are now examining for evidence.
Price, who was handed a five-year restraining order forbidding her from contacting Ms Penticost directly or indirectly in 2019 after hurling a 'tirade of abuse' at her, could now face up to five years in prison if she is charged and found guilty.
She also avoided having to appear in court this morning after a £7,300 fine she owed was paid. Price had been listed to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Monday over non-payment of a £7,358 fine dating back to January 2019.
However, on Monday morning court staff confirmed that the three-year-old fine had been paid and Price was no longer expected in court.
The reality star posted a defiant message on Instagram yesterday, saying she 'still has her sparkle and drive' after she was released on bail from Worthing police station.
In her Instagram post, Price wrote: 'I still have my sparkle and drive, looking forward to this week big announcement coming so excited.'
A source close to her family told The Sun shared their fears about the reality star's future and said that they wanted her to go back into rehab: 'Katie’s been having a tough time recently and her behaviour in the past couple of weeks has become slightly erratic.
'She has been lashing out on social media and even had a pop at Peter Andre’s wife Emily MacDonagh and claimed she’d stopped her daughter from visiting her in rehab.
'Her family wanted her to go back into the Priory for a while to get past her demons as she’s done so well previously when she had been there.
'However this isn’t something Katie wanted to do.
'They know how lucky she was that she didn’t go to prison. Her family is distraught. They want to do everything they can to help and protect Katie. But this time if the accusations are correct, she really hasn’t helped herself and the situation is looking bleak.'
Ex-glamour model Katie Price has been pictured today being driven around by fiancé Carl Woods after her arrest on Friday
In her Instagram post, Price wrote: 'I still have my sparkle and drive, looking forward to this week big announcement coming so excited'
Price (pictured on Sunsday) was arrested on Friday after allegedly breaching a restraining order by texting her ex-husband's fiancée
Price was released from a police station in Worthing on Saturday while inquiries into an alleged breach are ongoing. Pictured: Price was seen inside a car at a petrol station on Sunday
Carl Woods is seen driving Katie Price around Sussex this morning for the first time since she was arrested for allegedly breaking a restraining order
The 43-year-old was arrested on suspicion of breaching her restraining order after she allegedly branded her ex-husband Kieran Hayler's fiancée Michelle Penticost (pictured together) a 'gutter sl*g' in 'abusive messages', MailOnline revealed yesterday
Messages were alleged to have called her vile names, as seen in mocked-up picture above
Sussex Police said a woman in her 40s was arrested at a property in Partridge Green, West Sussex at around 12.15am on Friday night. She has been released under investigation.
A spokesman added a report had been made at 5.45pm on Friday in relation to an alleged breach of a restraining order.
Later on Saturday, Katie Price was seen being driven out of Worthing Police station by her fiancé Carl Woods and has been pictured being driven around again today.
She was seen on the back seat of a Mercedes, with her hand on the headrest, as her fiancé drove the vehicle.
Price, who lives in 'Mucky Mansion',
