Model Katie Price was in court yesterday after police saw her using a mobile phone whilst driving her pink horsebox.

She caused two other vehicles to move out of her way as she drifted into their lane on the A23 in West Sussex on February 19, magistrates were told.

Prosecutors said the 32-year-old was seen on the phone for two to three seconds by two officers after they drove alongside her in a patrol vehicle following the "careless" manoeuvre.

Texting

Pc Phill Mann, of Sussex Police, told Mid Sussex Magistrates' Court in Haywards Heath that he saw Price making a texting motion on an iPhone-type handset before pulling her over.

Price, married to cagefighter Alex Reid, who was also in the vehicle, denied using a mobile phone and told the officer she had been spraying perfume, Pc Mann said. She denies not being in proper control of a vehicle.

Katie, dressed in a fur-trimmed coat and black leggings, sat on a bench behind her lawyer, Nick Freeman, nicknamed Mr Loophole, as the evidence was heard. The court was shown footage captured by police apparently showing Price veering slightly across the carriageway while at the wheel of the horsebox

As soon as she saw the police alongside her, she put the item down and slowed down before being pulled over with blue flashing lights, Pc Mann added.

Fragrant

When Price, who also had children in the vehicle, was pulled over, she told Pc Mann that they had seen a perfume bottle and not a mobile phone. She retrieved a large bottle of perfume from a bag and showed it to Pc Mann, who told her that it was not what had been seen in her hand moments earlier.

He cautioned Price and reported her for using a mobile phone while driving and driving without due care and attention before sending her on her way.

Women drivers

In court she denied not being in proper control of a vehicle, said the horsebox drifted into another lane because she was “a typical woman driver".

“I'm just not used to a lorry that big. I was probably a bit scared because it was on a motorway.”

She said there was no reason for her to use her phone because the horsebox was equipped with hands free bluetooth equipment.

Points and a fine

Though Katie Price’s lawyer tried to get the case thrown out on a technicality, it proceeded, and she was fined £1000 and had three points added to the seven already on her license.