Katie Price’s stepdad breaks down in tears as he blames her downward spiral on Peter Andre split

KATIE Price's emotional stepdad has claimed her downward spiral began after the former model's split from Peter Andre.

Paul Price has opened up on the "backlash" that hit the mum-of-five, 44, after her break-up with her I'm A Celeb co-star, 49.

Peter was Katie's first husband after they met on I'm A Celebrity in 2004.

The couple were married from 2005 to 2009 and had two children - Junior and Princess Tiaamii.

In the days that followed their split in May 2009, it was claimed they'd had a huge bust up after she was caught on a secret night out with her hunky riding instructor Andrew Gould yet they both denied any suggestions of being unfaithful.

In Katie's new Channel 4 show, Paul - husband of Katie's terminally ill mum Amy - breaks down as he opens up on Katie's mental health battles, which she brands her "demon."

He bluntly told the series: "I think her downfall has to start from the divorce with Pete.

"From that moment, all she got was backlash, backlash, backlash and I find it quite hurtful.

"I’m not saying she’s an angel, but I think she deserves better. I can understand why she’s got mental health [struggles]. It’s hard."

Katie's mum Amy also addressed her recent dramatic drink-drive crash in which she flipped her BMW while banned from the road last September.

She added: "Kate is good at hiding her feelings, we knew she had loads and loads of problems.

"So when she had this accident the first thing she said to me was, ‘Why have I survived?’ I’m not sure if it was a suicide attempt, but you just realise how delicate she is.

"It was a cry for help, really. As a mum it’s devastating because you never want to see your child go through this and you do question yourself."

During the same series, Katie will reveal how her five kids were the factor in stopping her suicide attempt.

The former glamour model opened up on the sheer impact of her love for her children Harvey, 20, Junior, 17, Princess, 15, Jett, nine, and Bunny, eight, in her candid new Channel 4 show.

In a raw quote to camera, she said: ";All I saw was the kids’ faces and I never want that to happen again."

Continuing to open up on her struggles, she said: "I hit a severe depression a couple of years ago, depression on top of PTSD.

"I was suicidal, I didn’t want to be here.

"When I’m having a down moment it [mental health demon] comes out. But I’ve got to keep it at bay because it knows.

"It got me one time when I was weak and it can always be there, it’s controlling it."

Katie Price: Trauma And Me will air on Thursday September 8 at 9pm on Channel 4.