Katie Price and Peter Andre celebrate libel win (WENN image)

Katie Price and Peter Andre are officially not bad parents

Friday, 4 July 2008

Reality TV stars Katie Price and husband Peter Andre have won "substantial damages" from the News Of The World after the newspaper wrongly portrayed them as bad parents.

The article in question appeared in the Sunday tabloid in February this year and featured a series of shocking allegations about their bad parenting in an exclusive interview with a former nanny of the showbiz couple.

The couple's solicitor Mike Brookes told the court: "In general terms, the article portrayed the claimants as shocking and uncaring parents who put their own needs above those of their children.

"Allegations of this nature are of course highly defamatory and they were particularly offensive to the claimants because they are not true.

"Ms Price and Mr Andre pride themselves on a very loving and caring relationship with their children which has in fact been recognised publicly, with them both winning separate 'celebrity parenting' awards."

The paper has since retracted all the claims it made in the article, and has been forced to make a public apology and hand over "substantial" but undisclosed damages to the former glamour model Katie and ex-pop star Peter.

Check out the pics of Katie and Peter as they left court >

Speaking outside London's High Court after the verdict, Price said, "Anyone who has kids can imagine how they would feel to be accused publicly of being bad parents.

"Pete and I love our kids and would do anything for them.

"We came here today to see that justice was done and that our names were cleared.

Katie Price and Peter Andre reading a statement (WENN image)

"Now that the paper has accepted the story wasn't true, apologised to us, and paid us damages and our costs, we believe the record has been set straight and our names have been cleared."

Andre added: "We would like to say thank you very much. It means a lot to us as a family."

The News Of The World's solicitor Joanna Workman said the publication accepted the report was untrue and the couple were decent and responsible parents.

Katie and Peter - who fell in love on reality TV show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004 have a three year old son Junior, a one year old daughter Princess Tiaamii, and a six year old son Harvey, from Price's previous relationship.

The couple said they are splitting their damages between the NSPCC and Vision Charity, with the remainder going into a trust fund for their children.

Image credit: WENN

What do you think of the showbiz couple? Discuss them, and others in our Celebrity forum >