Kieran Hayler Rape Trial Opens at Lewes Crown Court Over 2016 Allegations
A 13-year-old girl allegedly raped by Kieran Hayler received a text message from him afterward saying “I love you goodnight,” a court has heard. Kieran Hayler, 39, is on trial at Lewes Crown Court accused of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on the teenager in West Sussex in 2016. Hayler denies all the charges against him.
Complainant Describes Police Interview and Reactions to Hayler
Giving evidence to jurors, the complainant, now an adult, told the court that Hayler texted her after the third alleged rape, saying “I love you goodnight” and she replied: “I love you too.” Footage of the complainant’s police interview revealed she told officers that when the alleged offences started, it didn’t really change the way she looked at Hayler. “He was still acting the same way he was before, I felt I had to do the same,” she said.
The woman told police she had four showers a day at that time, and her mother recalled her always washing and changing her underwear several times a day. She recalled thinking he was much older and wondering if it was something he should be doing. “I remember a phase changing my underwear three times a day,” she told officers, adding that she cried on a few occasions and wondered what was going on.
Messages to Take Secrets to the Grave and NSPCC Report
The complainant told police that Hayler had called her two or three years after the alleged incidents, telling her: “You promise you won’t tell anyone? What we had was special, you better take it to the grave.” She added that she was not frightened of him but felt it would not end well for her so she did not say anything, believing he would likely say she was lying.
In 2021, the complainant contacted the NSPCC charity, which referred her to the police and prompted the ongoing criminal investigation. She explained to officers that she came forward because she did not want to find out down the line that he had done it to anyone else, adding that she felt a surge of rage after seeing something on the news about him.
Cross-Examination and Defense Claims of a Campaign
During cross-examination on Tuesday, defense counsel Arlette Piercy suggested to the woman that there was not much detail on the first alleged rape because she made it up, to which the witness replied: “No, I was 13.” When Ms Piercy suggested nothing like that happened during the second alleged occasion, the complainant answered: “It did.”
Hayler was married to media personality Katie Price at the time of the alleged incidents, but their relationship broke down in 2018, and they divorced in 2021. Hayler denies the charges and suggests his ex-wife launched a campaign against him when their marriage ended, with the current allegations forming a part of that campaign.
Ms Price Expects to Testify as Witness
Jurors were shown a police interview in which the complainant stated she received a message of support from Ms Price saying she supported her through a tough time. The alleged victim is not part of Hayler or Ms Price’s extended families. Ms Price is expected to testify as a witness in the trial, which is scheduled to last about a week.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kieran Hayler Trial
When did the alleged offenses take place?
The alleged offenses occurred in West Sussex in 2016, when the complainant was 13 years old.
How did the investigation begin?
The investigation started after the complainant contacted the NSPCC charity in 2021, which then referred her report to the police.
What is Kieran Hayler’s defense against the charges?
Hayler denies all three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, suggesting that the allegations are part of a campaign launched against him by his ex-wife, Katie Price, following their 2018 separation.
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