Katie Price's Ex-Husband Allegedly Told Teenager to 'Take It to the Grave' After Rape, Court Hears

Kieran Hayler, the former husband of television personality Katie Price, allegedly instructed a teenage girl to keep quiet about sexual abuse, warning her to "take it to the grave," a jury at Lewes Crown Court has been told. The 39-year-old is standing trial accused of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a complainant who was 13 years old at the time of the alleged offences in West Sussex in 2016. Hayler denies all charges.

The court heard testimony describing how the complainant, now an adult, first disclosed the alleged abuse during a police interview that was played to jurors. She reportedly wept as she described the difficulty of telling her mother the truth about what had happened, explaining that she feared being viewed as "disgusting." She told officers she had initially only told her mother that Hayler had touched her, stopping short of describing sexual intercourse because she worried that "maybe I'd led him on."

According to the evidence presented, the complainant told police that she believed the abuse was her own fault for an extended period. "I thought it was my fault for ages," she said in the recorded interview. The court heard that she struggled with feelings of shame and confusion, particularly because of the way Hayler allegedly framed the encounters.

The jury was told that Hayler contacted the complainant by telephone approximately two or three years after the alleged incidents. During that call, he allegedly asked her to promise not to tell anyone, saying: "What we had was special – you better take it to the grave." The complainant recalled that he suggested speaking out might get her into trouble and could end badly for her, though she stated she did not feel frightened of him at the time.

In her police interview, the complainant described how Hayler had characterised the alleged abuse as something positive. "At the time I thought he really cares about me so he's not doing something horrible," she told officers. "Because of the way he described it, he said it was a good thing." This pattern of manipulation and reassurance is a common feature in cases involving the grooming of young victims, where perpetrators seek to normalise abuse and secure silence.

The court heard that the complainant experienced significant psychological distress following the alleged offences. She recalled taking as many as four showers a day and said her mother remembered her "always washing" and changing her underwear several times daily. "I definitely remember thinking he's a lot older than me, is this something he should be doing?" she told police. "I remember crying and wondering if it should have been happening."

After the video of the police interview was shown, the alleged victim gave evidence in person from behind a screen, a measure commonly used in sensitive trials to protect complainants. She was asked whether she remembered anything else and, referring to the third alleged incident, stated that Hayler had messaged her saying, "I love you, goodnight." She replied, "I love you too," she told the court.

The court learned that the complainant contacted the NSPCC charity in 2021, which then referred her to police, prompting an investigation. Hayler was first interviewed by officers in January 2022, at which point he denied any of the allegations and maintained that nothing sexual had occurred.

At the time of the alleged offences, Hayler was married to Katie Price, a well-known British media personality. The couple's relationship broke down in 2018, and they finalised their divorce in 2021. The court heard that Hayler has suggested his ex-wife "launched a campaign" against him when their marriage ended and that the allegations form part of that campaign. The alleged victim is not part of either Hayler's or Price's extended families.

Price is expected to appear as a witness during the trial, which is anticipated to last approximately one week. Her testimony could prove significant, given the defence's suggestion that the allegations are connected to the breakdown of the marriage.

The case highlights the complex dynamics often present in historical sexual abuse trials, where allegations surface years after the events in question and where victims may struggle with feelings of guilt and shame. Prosecutors must often rely on detailed witness testimony and any corroborating evidence to build their case, while defence teams may challenge the credibility of complainants or suggest alternative motives.

The trial continues, with the jury expected to hear further evidence in the coming days. Hayler, who appeared at court wearing a dark suit and pink shirt, has consistently denied all charges against him. The proceedings are taking place at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex, where the judge and jury will ultimately determine the outcome of the four charges.