Ronnie Wood sobers up - but dumps wife Jo for teen lover Katia

13/07/2008

Ronnie Wood has finally sobered up after his booze marathon - and decided to dump wife Jo for his teen lover.

The ageing rocker's pals were hoping he would try to save his 23-year marriage after drying out in rehab.

Instead Ronnie, 61, is pining to see 19-year-old model Ekaterina Ivanova - the girl he whisked off to his Ireland bolt-hole.

A source close to the Rolling Stone said last night: "Ronnie's family and friends were expecting him to see the error of his ways after having the chance to dry out.

"But rehab seems to have had the opposite effect.

"Ronnie's off the booze. But it's Katia he's been asking for and Katia he wants to be with.

"Their separation has made him realise how much he cares for her. On or off the bottle Ronnie seems to be prepared to throw away his marriage to be with this girl."

Jo, 53, was being comforted by friends in Barcelona last night after fleeing the family home in Kingston, Surrey.

The source added: "Jo is under a lot of strain.

"She wanted to give Ronnie another chance to fight for his marriage. But the future is looking bleak."

Ronnie, who flew back to London accompanied by son Jesse, 30, in a private jet paid for by artist and pal Damien Hirst, is expected to remain in rehab for the next two months.

Katia - who he met in a seedy escort bar - is holed up in East London, where she ventured out to the shops yesterday.

In an interview while the pair were in Ireland, the star - on two bottles of vodka a day - spoke of his booze struggles.

He said: "That's always been the problem with me. I find it hard to say no.

"A friend came over. I hadn't seen him for years so we had a few drinks. It ended up being seven in the morning."

lara.gould@sundaymirror.co.uk