SOCIALITE Paris Hilton wailed, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," and burst into tears as a judge yesterday sentenced her to 45 days' jail for a parole violation.
The Hilton hotel heiress's life as an endless party will be on hold from June 5 after Judge Michael Sauer refused to believe that she did not know her driver's licence had been suspended.
Hilton, 26, will not be allowed work release and was refused the possible option of paying to do her time in one of California's more comfortable jails.
In sentencing Hilton, a clearly disgusted Judge Sauer said: There's no doubt she knew her licence had been suspended.''
He ruled she had been in violation of the probation terms handed down in an alcohol-related reckless-driving case.
Hilton was clearly shaken as she tried to explain to the court that she believed her advisers when they told her she could drive.
I don't know what happened. I did what they said,'' she complained in a quivering voice, after making the sign of the cross and putting her folded hands to her mouth.
I'm very sorry, and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention to everything.
I'm sorry, and I didn't do it on purpose at all.''
Rick and Kathy Hilton were visibly upset as the sentencewas handed down on their daughter, one of the world's most photographed women.
Kathy Hilton laughed when a city prosecutor said in closing remarks that Hilton deserved jail time, but lashed out when a reporter later asked for a reaction.
What do you think? This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money with all this nonsense. This is a joke,'' a furious Mrs Hilton said.
Hilton's parole violation conviction came after she was caught driving on a suspended licence in February, following her no-contest plea to drink-driving last year.
Prosecutors had warned they would seek a jail sentence, but that didn't deter Hilton from testing the patience of the court by turning up for her hearing at least 15 minutes late.
Soberly dressed in a dark suit with a white blouse, her blonde hair in a pony tail, Hilton had to run the gauntlet of at least 60 paparazzi and reporters.
Builders on a construction site opposite the courthouse shouted Jail time!'' to dozens of television crews and photographers who ringed the court building in downtown Los Angeles.
Prosecutors told the court that Hilton had been stopped on January 15 by officers from the California Highway Patrol and told that she was not allowed to be driving.
On that occasion, Hilton signed a police statement acknowledging she was not supposed to drive and she was let off with an informal warning.
Just over a month later, she was stopped again in Hollywood.
Officers spotted her driving her $230,000 Bentley Continental at night with its headlights off.
Hilton's spokesman said his client was unaware she was violating her parole.
But prosecutors dismissed that line of argument, and Judge Sauer agreed.
When a prosecutor asked whether she had read the licence suspension notice that was mailed to her, Hilton replied: I have people who do that for me.
''
Hilton said she hadn't read her plea agreement either, and didn't realise she had failed to enrol in an alcohol-education program despite agreeing to do so.
I just sign what people tell me to sign,'' she said.
Hilton's publicist, Elliot Mintz, tried to take the fall.
Mintz testified that he told Hilton it was okay for her to drive after 30 days for work-related'' purposes. He claimed he had been misinformed.
But the prosecutor said: We are asking that she be held to the same standard as everyone else who goes through this system.
''
In 2003, an unauthorised sex video of her and an ex-boyfriend appeared on the Internet. She has had cameo roles in films and released a debut album last year.
She s exempt from the law, just like all the other cashed-up celebrities.
Probably the worst she ll get is house arrest at her bazillion dollar mansion and/or bazillion dollar yacht. What a hard life..
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