Big Brother's Kitten due in court

Big Brother rebel Kitten may have to swap her current captivity for a prison cell if she fails to show up in court next week.

The 24-year-old, real name Kathryn Pinder, whose unruly behaviour in the Big Brother house has led producers to evict a housemate as punishment, is due at Brighton Magistrates’ Court for non-payment of fines.

At a previous court hearing, magistrates adjourned the case until next Wednesday, when they could postpone it again or issue a warrant forcing Kitten to come to court.

Non-payment of fines is not a criminal offence but people who refuse to pay can be held in contempt of court and jailed.

Kitten’s defiance has already made her among the most infamous contestants ever to grace the Big Brother house.

Producers reacted angrily when Pinder, from Grand Parade, Brighton, daubed peace slogans on the walls, and yesterday they announced that a contestant would be booted out as a result.

They could not say whether Kitten would be removed from the house to attend court if she is not evicted tonight.

A spokesman said: “If there was something serious happening, we would take a view on what would be in the housemate’s best interest.”

Magistrates in Sussex are top of a national league for collecting fines, and have adopted a zero tolerance policy to force defaulters to pay up.

A Big Brother spokeswoman added that the show had not been contacted by the courts in connection with Pinder's court case, but admitted producers would do "whatever it takes to abide by the law''.

The spokeswoman said: “The situation is that we have not been contacted by the courts or any legal authority.

“There is nothing we can do at the moment, but at the end of the day we would abide by the law. If we are legally obliged to do something, then we will.

“We have no idea at the moment what would happen, and we would take a view on it at the time.”

A source from the Crown Prosecution Service said Pinder was facing court for non-payment of a £200 (€299) speeding fine.

It understood that lawyers are seeking permission for Pinder not to attend court on Wednesday.

To avoid an appearance she must give a valid reason or pay the fine or face a warrant for her arrest.