Katie Price has firmly stated that she is “not running from matters” and feels “neither embarrassed nor ashamed” after a judge issued an arrest warrant due to her failure to attend a bankruptcy hearing. The Insolvency and Companies Court Judge, Catherine Burton, emphasized that Price had received “very clear warnings” about the necessity of her attendance on Tuesday.
Price, once a celebrated glamour model, was scheduled to face inquiries regarding her financial situation in the specialist bankruptcy court in London. These inquiries were to be conducted by barristers representing the trustee of her two bankruptcies.
Taking to Instagram, Price explained her absence, stating she was “away working on a documentary about corrective surgeries” and acknowledged the seriousness of her current financial troubles. She reassured her followers that she was fully aware of the severity of her situation and was actively working to resolve it.
At a prior hearing, a judge warned Price that she risked arrest if she failed to attend future court dates, emphasizing that substantial evidence would be required if she couldn’t appear. Despite this, reports surfaced that Price had traveled to Turkey, further corroborated by a now-deleted Instagram story showing her enjoying a crisp sandwich on a flight.
In her Instagram statement, Price accused the media of attempting to “cause continued humiliation to myself and my family.” She insisted she was cooperating with the relevant authorities to the best of her abilities and planned to address the issues upon her return from work.
She elaborated: “Despite consistent stories aiming to humiliate me over my personal misfortunes, I am neither embarrassed nor ashamed. I own my situation and am striving to work my way out of it and rectify matters. I have to continue my work to satisfy these bankruptcy orders, which is all I am trying to do right now. I am not running from matters and will continue to handle them with great seriousness. I am doing the best I can to rectify things during these extremely challenging times.”
Judge Burton, in issuing the arrest warrant on Tuesday, pointed out that Price had “failed to attend today’s hearing” and offered no explanation for her absence. The judge stated:
“It is, in my judgment, necessary that the court issue a warrant for Ms. Price’s arrest. She has no valid excuse for failing to attend today’s hearing.”
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Judge Burton remarked that the issuance of an arrest warrant was not taken “lightly.” She criticized Price for offering only “piecemeal cooperation” and failing to provide the “most basic information” related to her bankruptcies.
Price was first declared bankrupt in November 2019 and again in March of this year. During a hearing in February, she was ordered to pay 40% of her monthly income from her activities on the adult entertainment website Only Fans to the trustee for the next three years, relating to her first bankruptcy. The second bankruptcy declaration in March stemmed from an unpaid tax bill exceeding £750,000 owed to HM Revenue & Customs.
In October last year, Price expressed her frustration with ongoing legal threats, stating she was “fed up” and would prefer to go to prison to be “done with it all.” Judge Burton dismissed the relevance of Price’s absence reason, maintaining that the court’s decision to issue the arrest warrant was justified given the circumstances.
Price’s situation continues to evolve as she navigates the legal and financial challenges she faces, maintaining a public presence and working to meet her obligations. Her resilience in the face of adversity and her determination to address her financial issues highlight her commitment to overcoming these obstacles.
