Katie Price: ‘I’m devastated that this happened’

Katie Price was left “dazed” and “shocked” last week, after she was allegedly attacked at home. The TV star was taken to hospital, claiming she was the victim of an unprovoked violent assault that left her with a bruised cheek and a split lip. A 32-year-old man was arrested and later bailed on suspicion of assault, theft, and coercive and controlling behaviour.

Soon after coming out of hospital, Katie – who has five children: Harvey, 19, Junior, 16, Princess, 14, Jett, eight, and seven-year-old Bunny – spoke of her pain over the incident at the property in Essex, saying she’d had to flee to her eldest son Harvey, who has a home nearby.

“I’ve got a big bruise, my face is all puffy, and I went to hospital. I’m still all dazed,” she revealed. “I’m devastated. I’ve told police that I was assaulted and am in shock that this happened. I ran away after being punched. I ran to Harvey’s house nearby and have now done damage to my feet, which I previously injured. The fight was unprovoked. I was just sitting there watching telly when the assault happened. I can’t say any more.”

Neighbours said they heard “loads of shouting and screaming” on the night the model was rushed to hospital. “There was something kicking off because I heard loads of shouting and screaming. It was definitely going off,” one claimed. “It was antisocial and sounded like a load of pissheads coming back from the pub. There was a real kerfuffle. Then I saw a car parked across the road for ages. Around half an hour after that, I heard loads of talking. I came downstairs to see what was going on, but I don’t know what time it was because I didn’t have my phone with me. I didn’t see or hear any cops. I didn’t see any blue lights.”

Another added, “We heard an argument at about 11pm. I didn’t hear anything at 1.30am when the police were supposed to have been called, because I was asleep. I know that Katie Price had been living next door. I don’t think I’d heard any big arguments before last night.”

It has also been claimed that Katie’s £50,000 engagement ring from fiancé Carl Woods was stolen in the alleged attack, and sources close to her say she is now looking to increase security around her, as she’s so terrified.

“Katie is considering getting a security team in place and has spoken to guys she has used in the past,” a source claimed. “ She is also thinking about getting a panic alarm, so that she feels even safer. Katie’s priority is feeling safe, and she’ll do anything – including 24/7 security forming a ‘ring of steel’ around her – to make sure that’s the case.”

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Hours before the alleged assault, Katie, 43, uploaded a picture of herself and Carl posing next to Jett and Bunny, with the caption, “Family time”, alongside a heart. Earlier in the day, she had also posted an image of Bunny holding Carl’s dog Buddy, saying, “Excuse the mess, we are doing up Carl’s house, but how cute does Bunny look with Buddy.”

Since the incident, Katie is said to be staying with friends because she is too frightened to return to her home. Police, along with friends and family — including Katie’s sister Sophie and mum Amy — were pictured at the house. They were seen collecting various items of clothing from the property. A make-up artist and a hairdresser, who had arrived to film Katie’s latest reality show, were turned away at the door.

But those closest to Katie are worried that she doesn’t have the strength to take this case to court, as she is “too mentally fragile” to be quizzed. “This is a nightmare situation for Katie,” a friend of hers said. “She absolutely stands by her account of events of that night given to police, but upon reflection, isn’t sure she’s mentally strong enough to go through yet another court appearance. She doesn’t want to have to go through another unpleasant experience and have her private life scrutinised by everyone. Katie doesn’t see any other way out.”

This would mean that the case against her alleged attacker could be dropped within days, but a police spokesman said, “We have a duty of care to gather all evidence relating to this case, and our inquiries continue.”

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And friends say that she will do her best to try to make sure she can do it, with one revealing, “Everyone is behind her and will make sure that she has the strength to pursue the case, so it can go full-steam ahead.”

Katie – who is currently on TV screens in the latest series of Celebrity MasterChef, which was filmed before the alleged assault – has since returned to work to film her son Harvey’s new BBC documentary.

Following the success of the acclaimed documentary Katie Price: Harvey And Me earlier this year, Harvey – who was born with Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic condition that affects his body, appetite, behaviour and learning development – is set to film a new eight-part series as he moves to a residential college, as well as covering his love of trains.

“Katie’s already back filming with the BBC for a second documentary following Harvey’s journey to residential college,” an insider said. “She didn’t want to let anyone down, so she’s soldiering on and filming today.”

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