Katie Price’s former husband Kieran Hayler allegedly told a 13-year-old girl who has accused him of rape that she could be his “best friend” because he had no friends of his own, a court has heard. The allegation emerged during Hayler’s trial at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex, where he denies three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving the complainant, who is now 23.According to The Sun, the girl’s mother, while giving evidence, told the jury that her daughter had liked the way Hayler spoke to her. Recalling what her daughter had allegedly told her, the mother said, “She said he told her he didn’t have any friends and she could be his best friend.”“She liked the way he spoke to her,” she added.The allegations relate to incidents said to have taken place in West Sussex between June 1 and October 13, 2016. Hayler, 39, denies all the charges against him, and the case is continuing.
Mother says she wanted to protect her daughter’s trust
The court also heard why the complainant’s mother did not disclose the allegations to others until after Katie Price contacted social services in 2018. Asked about the delay, the mother said she had wanted to preserve her daughter’s trust and keep what she had been told confidential.“I had to keep her secret and her trust,” she told the court.“I couldn’t tell my husband because I knew what the consequences would be. I didn’t want any of this for her.”The mother denied that Katie Price had influenced her decision to attend court or give evidence. She also rejected suggestions that her daughter was interested in becoming a celebrity.During the proceedings, the jury heard about text messages exchanged between Price and the complainant, in which the reality television personality allegedly offered to make the young woman a “little star”. The messages were read out to the mother during her evidence.Defence barrister Arlette Piercy questioned the mother about the exchange and what she knew about the allegations. The witness maintained that her daughter had not been motivated by the prospect of fame.“My daughter wasn’t interested in becoming a star,” she said.When challenged over whether she had believed that anything had happened and whether she had taken action, the mother replied, “Yes, I did. I believed my daughter.”
Defence claims allegations were part of a campaign against Hayler
The trial has also heard that Hayler believes he is being set up by his former wife following the breakdown of their marriage. When proceedings opened, jurors were told that he would argue the allegations had been fabricated as part of a campaign against him.The complainant’s mother firmly denied that anyone had pressured or influenced her to come forward or give evidence against Hayler.Crown prosecutor Ryan Richter asked her whether she had attended court to support her daughter by making up the allegations. She replied, “No, I have not.”Asked whether anybody had influenced or pressured her to make the claims, she said, “No, nobody.”The mother also told the court that she had attended forgiveness counselling with a kinesiology therapist. She explained that, alongside treatment relating to her arthritis, the therapist also practised what she described as psychic healing.
Complainant allegedly received ‘I love you’ text after third incident
Earlier in the trial, the complainant gave evidence about the alleged incidents and told jurors that Hayler had sent her a text message after the third alleged rape, saying, “I love you goodnight.”She said she had replied, “I love you too.”The complainant contacted the NSPCC in 2021, and the charity referred the matter to the police, prompting an investigation. Hayler was first interviewed by police in January 2022, when he denied the allegations and denied that anything sexual had taken place.Sussex Police previously confirmed that Hayler had been charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving a girl aged 13 at the time of the alleged offences. The complainant cannot be named for legal reasons and has received support from specially trained officers.
Katie Price expected to give evidence during the trial
Jurors have also been told that Katie Price, the mother of five and a prominent media personality, is expected to be called as a witness during the proceedings. Judge Mark Van Der Zwart described Price as a media personality whom the jury had likely heard of.Hayler met Price in 2012 and proposed to her on Christmas Day that year. The couple married at a luxury resort in the Caribbean in 2013 before their relationship eventually ended.Hayler has consistently denied the allegations. In a previous statement, a representative for him said he “strongly denies the allegations made against him in their entirety”, adding that he had cooperated with the police investigation and looked forward to clearing his name through the judicial process.The trial at Lewes Crown Court is ongoing. The allegations remain unproven, and Hayler is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until he is found guilty.
