Paris Hilton sentenced to 45 days in jail

Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in jail for driving while her licence was suspended.

Appearing in court yesterday, the hotel heiress was told that she must report to a women's jail in the city of Lynwood by June 5. Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer told Hilton that she would not be allowed to serve time in an alternative jail of her choice, nor would she be offered any work release.

The 26-year-old was banned from driving in September last year following a drink-related reckless driving offence, but she got back behind the wheel in February. Judge Sauer refused to believe testimony from Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz, who claimed that Paris was unaware of the ban.

Before her sentence was announced, Hilton told the judge: "I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all."

However, Sauer insisted that there was "no doubt" that Paris was aware of the situation and ruled that she was in violation of the terms of her probation.

Speaking to reporters outside the hearing, Paris's mother Kathy claimed that the decision was "pathetic and disgusting". Defence attorney Howard Weitzman vowed to appeal.