Katie Price reportedly missed a court hearing on Friday because she decided to go on holiday with her boyfriend JJ Slater.
Katie Price
The former glamor model, 45, has been declared bankrupt for the second time after failing to pay more than £750,000 in unpaid tax – and now risks losing her home if HMRC can't recover the money, according to dailymail.co.uk.
She was due to testify in the High Court today about her finances. However, at the start of the hearing, lawyers said Price told them at the last minute that he could not attend due to health issues. One judge described this excuse as “weak”.
According to The Sun, Katie left the UK and was spotted at the airport with Married At First Sight star JJ.
A source stated: “Katie and JJ are on holiday in Cyprus. They were spotted at the airport looking very much in love before leaving together.”
The reality star is now facing police arrest after failing to turn up for a court hearing in relation to her bankruptcy.
Katie's personal assistant sent the court a statement from a consultant psychiatrist who said she suffers from anxiety and depression as well as other mental health issues.
Lawyers for the trustees of Katie's first bankruptcy asked the judge to order her attendance at a future hearing and said it should be “notified”
that she could be arrested if she didn't show up.
Judge Mark Mullen, of the Insolvency and Companies Court, said that letters “just as short”” were sent before previous hearings, which Price also did not attend.
Although he described the court as “understanding” towards people with health problems, he said: “There is a consistent pattern of last-minute deferrals being requested on the basis of insufficient medical evidence. This cannot be allowed to continue on such an unsatisfactory basis.”
Judge Mullen ordered that Katie attend her next hearing, unless she has a reasonable excuse, and provide medical information so that adjustments can be made to her “facilitate” testifying.
He stated: “It is a fact that those who do not appear without a reasonable excuse for public examinations are liable to arrest. It is important that Ms Price is under no illusion that, like any other bankrupt, she is expected to come forward unless there are reasonable grounds why she should be exempted.'
Alex Reid, Katie's former partner, was present at the hearing. The former glamor model owes her £250,000 plus costs following a 2019 court order.
Katie allegedly shared sexually suggestive videos and photos of the 48-year-old former cage fighter. Alex sued his ex-wife for “sharing private information – some of a sexual nature,”
of which he said that “violated his right to privacy”.
Last month, a High Court judge ruled that it should be declared bankrupt after an HMRC official said it had not paid any money owed or responded to any correspondence since being sued for the unpaid tax last year.
This is Katie's second bankruptcy as she is being chased by creditors for a £3.2m payment following the collapse of her company Jordan Trading Ltd, which sells perfumes and cosmetics.
Judge Sebastion Prentis, sitting at the High Court Rolls Building, said Katie received a petition on November 27, 2023, seeking £761,994.05.
The amount is made up of unpaid self-assessment tax on her 2020-2022 income, as well as penalties and surcharges.
The judge said she also owed £140,000 in unpaid VAT and added: “As with unpaid tax, no payment has been made.”
Katie previously revealed that she did not feel able to attend court to discuss her finances.
Speaking exclusively to the Mail's comedy podcast last month, she said: “I just can't face going to court. Mentally, I can't do it.”
