Los Angeles, April 27 (IANS): Actress Kim Richards has entered a rehabilitation centre in Malibu after she was arrested for public intoxication earlier this month. She reportedly entered the rehab because she wants to avoid jail.

The idea to enter rehab came to her after the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star was arrested on April 16 at the Beverly Hills Hotel for public intoxication, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"Kim went to rehab finally because she got arrested, she humiliated her kids and she wants to avoid jail. If the arrest hadn't happened, she wouldn't be going to rehab, it would be business as usual. She's in denial that she has a problem," a source said.

A statement from the Beverly Hills police said that Richards "was displaying symptoms of alcohol intoxication, including slurred speech and belligerent insolent behavior, cursing at the officers and passively resisted arrest". She was also charged with trespassing, resisting an officer and battery after she attacked a police officer.

Following her arrest, Richard was invited to Dr. Phil McGraw's show to have an intervention along with her children.

The 50-year-old mother shed a tear when she revealed the time she started to drink. "I poured a drink of vodka, and I thought, 'Oh my god, what have I done?' " she said in the interview.