14 September 2023 , 14:23
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Katie Price told a judge she had been left feeling "petrified" after she alleged anonymous trolls attended the public, virtual court hearing for her bankruptcy today.
The 45-year-old attended the virtual hearing, which took place at a specialist insolvency and companies court and alleged to the Judge Paul Greenwood she had spotted a screenshot of the proceedings on a trolling website, where she claimed people were calling her names and calling for her to "go to jail".
It is contempt of court to take any recordings in virtual or in-person court, which the judge warned of before making the rest of the hearing private – meaning journalists and members of the public were asked to leave.
Prior to the remote hearing being made private, Katie told the judge: "I'm scared to be on here because of people on this site, they're awful about me, they put all my private stuff on here, it's a site where they just slag everyone off." Katie said she felt "petrified" and the trolls had caused her anxiety.
Later in the public part of the hearing, she told the judge one troll on the website, which the Mirror has decided not to name, had said they "hope she goes to jail" over her bankruptcy. Judge Paul Greenwood then directed those who weren't in attendance to represent Miss Price or the claimant to leave.
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"I simply cannot know who is present in court remotely," Judge Greenwood said before he added he couldn't "be sure" the "integrity of the hearing is not being affected" by the potential, alleged contempt of court. It was then directed for the press and members of the public to leave the virtual hearing.
Katie Price said she felt 'petrified' after a troll allegedly posted a recording of the court proceeding online (Instagram)
The TV star said trolls on the unnamed website had called for her to 'go to jail' over her bankruptcy (Instagram)Ahead of the hearing, it was reported Katie could be asked to sell her Sussex home, nicknamed the Mucky Mansion, in order to meet her debts if they see fit. Katie paid £1.3m for the sprawling property around nine years ago, the home – which Katie was seen revamping in a Channel 4 series after it fell in disrepair – is now said to be worth around £2m.
A considerable amount of the £3.265m is owed for mortgages secured against her Mucky Mansion in West Sussex.
In July, a court hearing – in which Katie or a legal representative for the TV star did not attend – was told Miss Price had breached a payment agreement made, the applicant's barrister, Darragh Connell, said.
Katie previously agreed to pay £12,000 a month through an individual voluntary arrangement but, her creditors claim she has not been sticking to the deal.
Discussions of a public examination took place in the July hearing, meaning Katie's affairs, dealings and property are expected to be examined before the court in another hearing.
Mr Connell told the court at the time: "We are now at the stage were this matter needs to be expeditiously dealt with."
Judge Paul Greenwood said during the hearing: "I've looked at the evidence and I understand there has been a breach of the incoming payments agreement that was reached on the 10th April."
He added that it seems "right and indeed inevitable" that he should make the "directions sought" of the "listing" of a one-day public examinations "as soon as the court can accommodate".