Paris Hilton to be jailed

A California judge has today sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail for violating her probation.

The judge's ruling put the brakes on the hotel heiress' famous high life and even prompted her mother to ask for him for his autograph.

Party girl Hilton, 26, must go to jail on June 5 and she will not be allowed any work release, leave of absences, use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in place of jail, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Sauer ruled after a hearing.

The judge said she broke the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.

"I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention to everything," she told the judge before he announced the sentence. "I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all."

She was then ordered to report to a women's jail in suburban Lynwood on the set date or face 90 days behind bars.

As a city prosecutor said during closing arguments that Hilton deserved jail time, Hilton's mother Kathy laughed. When the judge ruled, Kathy Hilton then blurted out: "May I have your autograph?"

Paris Hilton was among a series of witnesses who took the stand during the hearing. She maintained she was unaware her driving licence was suspended and thought she was allowed to drive for work purposes.

She said that when an officer who stopped her in January made her sign a document stating her licence was suspended, she thought he was mistaken and did not actually look at the document.

Hilton arrived at the court 10 minutes after the scheduled 1.30pm start time of the hearing.

The heiress arrived in the back of a black Cadillac Escalade and swept into the Metropolitan Courthouse with several men in suits, ignoring photographers lining the route into a rear entrance. In addition to her mother, her father Rick also came with her.

Wearing a grey jacket and white shirt over black slacks and with a black headband on, she said nothing and appeared serious.

The celebrity case brought an unusual scene to the austere court. As if at a red carpet event, dozens of photographers and reporters lined up at the rear entrance. Yellow police tape substituted for velvet ropes.

Hilton pleaded no contest in January to reckless driving stemming from a September 7 arrest in Hollywood. Police said she appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. She had a blood-alcohol level of .08%, the level at which an adult driver is breaking the law.

She was sentenced to 36 months' probation, alcohol education and $1,500 (€1,104) in fines.

Two other traffic stops and failure to enrol in an alcohol education programme are what landed the socialite back in court.

On January 15, Hilton was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol. Officers informed her that she was driving on a suspended licence and she signed a document acknowledging that she was not to drive, according to papers filed in Superior Court.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies stopped Hilton on February 27 and charged her with violating her probation. Police said she was pulled over at about 11pm after authorities saw the car speeding with its headlights off.

Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz, said at the time Hilton was not aware her licence was suspended. A copy of the document Hilton signed on January 15 was found in the car's glove compartment, court papers say.

Hilton was also required to enrol in an alcohol education programme by February 12. As of April 17, she had not enrolled, prosecutors said.

Hilton, heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune, first gained notoriety for her hard partying as a teenager. She attracted worldwide attention when a sex tape she made with a boyfriend was released on the internet.

She stars in the reality TV series, 'The Simple Life', now in its fifth season, with Nicole Richie. She appeared in the 2005 film 'House of Wax' and recently finished filming 'The Hottie And The Nottie'. She also is a handbag designer and has a namesake perfume.

Mintz, characterised as a liaison between Hilton and her lawyers, told the court that to his knowledge Hilton did not drive during the 30-day period. He said he then advised her that he believed her licence was no longer suspended.

But the judge called Mintz's testimony worthless and expressed disbelief at Hilton's lawyers.

"I can't believe that either attorney did not tell her that the suspension had been upheld," the judge said.

"She wanted to disregard everything that was said and continue to drive no matter what."

Hilton looked forward and did not speak to the media as she left court. Her mother looked upset.

One of her lawyers, Howard Weitzman, said he would appeal.

"I'm shocked, I'm surprised and really disheartened in the system that I've worked in for close to 40 years," Weitzman said.

He said the sentence was "uncalled for, inappropriate and bordered on the ludicrous".

"I think she's singled out because of who she is," Weitzman said.