LA Superior Court Judge Michael Sauer rejected Hilton's defence that she didn't realise her license was suspended and ordered the 26year-old socialite to report to a county detention facility on 5 June.

Hilton wept and her mother, Kathy, yelled at the prosecutor, "You're pathetic, " as the packed courtroom cleared.

The decision capped a twohour hearing in which prosecutors argued Hilton was seeking to be placed above the law. Defence lawyers said she was being singled out for harsh treatment because of her celebrity.

The star of the reality TV show The Simple Life testified that she was unaware her driving privileges had been completely suspended at the time police stopped her and impounded her car on 27 February. But the judge said he did not believe Hilton, pointing to a notice she had received from a police officer, and had signed, during another traffic stop in January.

He said Hilton had "completely ignored" that notice, which she had carried in her glove box for weeks.