Hotel heiress and celebrity socialite Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating probation related to a reckless driving case.

Hilton, 26, must go to the Century Regional Detention Center, Los Angeles County's jailhouse for women, on June 5. She will not be allowed any work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail or any electronic monitoring in lieu of jail, Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled after a hearing.

Paris Hilton, arriving at the Metropolitan Courthouse in L.A. for a probation violation hearing, must serve 45 days in jail beginning June 5.
(Matt Sayles/Associated Press)

The judge ruled that she was in violation of the terms of her probation in her alcohol-related reckless driving case.

Hilton had said she was unaware her 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.

"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," she told the judge before he announced her sentence.

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

Heiress to be segregated

Inmates at the detention centre get three low-sodium meals a day, with dinner the only hot meal. Beef and pork aren't permitted — "it's all poultry-based," said Capt. Alice Scott, who oversees the 2,200-inmate facility.

Hilton will be segregated from the general population for her own safety, living in a one- or two-person cell.

Inmates are allowed outside their cells for an hour each day to shower, watch television in the day room, participate in outdoor recreation or talk on the telephone, Scott said. There is a bank of phones that use prepaid phone cards — cellular telephones and BlackBerries aren't allowed.

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

Paris Hilton looked forward and didn't speak to the media as she left court. Her mother looked upset.

When a reporter asked what she thought of the judge's decision, a visibly angry Kathy Hilton responded: "What do you think? This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money with all this nonsense. This is a joke."

Defence attorney 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.

Arrives at court late

Paris Hilton arrived at the courthouse 10 minutes after the scheduled 1:30 p.m. start time of the hearing.

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

She was sentenced to 36 months probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines.

But she landed back in court after two other traffic stops, and she failed to enrol in a mandated alcohol education program.

On Jan. 15, Hilton was pulled over by 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.

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

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

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