Kieran Hayler Trial: Katie Price's Ex-Husband Accused of Telling 13-Year-Old Girl to Stay Silent, Court Hears

Kieran Hayler, the former husband of media personality Katie Price, is standing trial at Lewes Crown Court on serious allegations involving a teenage girl. The 39-year-old faces three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, all of which he categorically denies. The charges relate to incidents alleged to have occurred in West Sussex in 2016, when the complainant was just 13 years old.

The court heard detailed testimony on Wednesday, with jurors being played a recorded police interview with the complainant. In that interview, she described how Hayler allegedly urged her not to speak about what had happened, warning that he could face consequences. According to her account, he told her: "You can't talk about it, you can't tell anyone, I might get in trouble for this."

The prosecution's case centres on three separate alleged occasions. The first is said to have taken place when Hayler began speaking to the 13-year-old about sexual intercourse, describing it as a "special thing" that they should experience together. The complainant told police that Hayler became emotional during this encounter, reportedly crying and expressing concerns about whether he should proceed.

She recalled him saying words to the effect of, "Maybe I shouldn't take it away from you, it's so important." The court heard that the complainant did not engage in any conversation with Hayler following the alleged incident. Reflecting on the experience, she told officers she remembered thinking she was "probably a bit young" at the time.

The second alleged rape is said to have occurred approximately two to three weeks later. According to the complainant's police interview, she remembered waking up to find Hayler present. She described his demeanour afterwards as though nothing unusual had taken place, acting "like nothing had happened."

The third occasion, the court heard, involved a different sequence of events. Hayler allegedly told the girl she should not disclose anything to anyone before sexually assaulting her. It is alleged that during this incident, he grabbed her hand and placed it down his trousers. The complainant told police that by this point she recognised something was wrong, stating: "I think by that point I knew it wasn't quite right, he kept telling me to 'shh', I had to be secretive and not tell anyone."

She also told officers about the lasting impact of the alleged experiences, saying: "I tried to forget it for so many years." The court heard that in 2021, the complainant contacted the NSPCC, the UK's leading children's charity dedicated to protecting young people from abuse. The organisation subsequently referred her to Sussex Police, which triggered a formal investigation into the allegations.

Hayler was first interviewed by police in January 2022. During that interview, he denied all of the allegations, maintaining that no sexual activity of any kind took place between him and the complainant. He has consistently denied the charges throughout the legal process.

At the time of the alleged incidents in 2016, Hayler was married to Katie Price, the well-known television personality, author and former glamour model. Their relationship ultimately broke down in 2018, and the couple finalised their divorce in 2021. The court heard that Hayler has suggested his ex-wife "launched a campaign" against him following the collapse of their marriage, and he contends that the allegations form part of that campaign.

The complainant is not a member of either Hayler's or Price's extended families, the court was told. This detail distinguishes the case from any suggestion of domestic or familial context, though the allegations nonetheless involve a child who was known to Hayler at the time. Price herself is expected to appear as a witness during the trial, which is anticipated to last approximately one week.

The case has drawn significant media attention, partly due to Hayler's previous high-profile marriage to Price. Hayler, a former stripper and reality television personality, married Price in 2013. Their relationship was documented in various media outlets and reality shows before their separation. The allegations now before the court date back to a period when the couple were still together.

Legal experts note that cases involving historical allegations of child sexual abuse often present unique challenges for courts. Complainants may take years to come forward, and prosecutions frequently rely heavily on the credibility of witness testimony, as physical evidence may be limited or unavailable. The fact that the complainant initially contacted the NSPCC rather than police directly is not uncommon, as charities often serve as a trusted first point of contact for survivors of abuse.

The trial continues before the jury, who will ultimately decide whether the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Hayler maintains his innocence, and the burden of proof rests with the Crown. The court has heard detailed and distressing testimony, and the legal proceedings are expected to continue throughout the week as further evidence and witness statements are presented.