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

Kieran Hayler, the former husband of media personality Katie Price, allegedly instructed a teenage girl to "take it to the grave" following what she describes as repeated sexual abuse, a jury at Lewes Crown Court has been told. Hayler, 39, is standing trial accused of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, all alleged to have taken place in West Sussex in 2016. He denies every charge.

The complainant, who was 13 years old at the time of the alleged offences, gave her account through a video recording of a police interview played before the jury. Weeping as she recounted her experiences, she explained that she had initially lied to her mother about the nature of what had happened because she was afraid of being judged. "I didn't want her to think I was disgusting," she told officers, adding that for a long period she blamed herself entirely for the events, telling police: "I thought it was my fault for ages."

According to her testimony, she eventually disclosed to her mother that Hayler had touched her but deliberately stopped short of describing anything sexual, fearing that "maybe I'd led him on." This partial disclosure, she suggested, reflected the shame and confusion she felt at the time, a reaction that professionals say is not uncommon among young victims of alleged abuse who may struggle to understand or articulate what has happened to them.

The court heard that Hayler contacted the complainant by telephone approximately two or three years after the alleged incidents. During that call, she claims he pressured her to keep quiet. "He said something like 'you promise you won't tell anyone? What we had was special - you better take it to the grave,'" she told police. She also recalled him warning that speaking out "might get me into trouble" and that it could end badly for her, although she stated she did not feel frightened of him at the time.

Describing her emotional state during the period of the alleged offences, the complainant said she had been manipulated into believing the conduct was an expression of care. "At the time I thought he really cares about me so he's not doing something horrible," she told officers, explaining that Hayler had framed his behaviour as a positive thing. She added that he had described what happened as "a good thing," a narrative that left her deeply conflicted and unable to recognise the situation as abusive.

The psychological toll of the alleged abuse was laid bare through the complainant's recollection of her daily habits after the incidents. She remembered taking "four showers a day after that," and said her mother had observed her "always washing" and changing her underwear "several times" a day. Such compulsive cleansing behaviour, experts note, is frequently associated with trauma and a desire to remove feelings of contamination or shame following sexual abuse.

She also described moments of doubt and distress, telling police: "I definitely remember thinking he's a lot older than me, is this something he should be doing?" She recalled crying and wondering whether what was happening should have been taking place at all. After the police interview video concluded, the alleged victim gave further evidence in person from behind a screen, a measure typically used to protect vulnerable witnesses during sensitive trials.

During that live testimony, she was asked whether she remembered anything else. Referring to the third alleged incident, she told the court that Hayler had sent her a message saying, "I love you, goodnight." She said she responded with, "I love you too," a detail that underscores the complex dynamic of attachment and confusion that can arise in cases involving allegations of grooming, where a young person may feel affection toward an abuser while also sensing something is wrong.

The investigation into Hayler began in 2021, when the complainant reached out to the NSPCC, the UK children's charity. The organisation referred her case to the police, prompting a formal inquiry. Hayler was first interviewed by officers in January 2022, during which he denied all of the allegations, insisting that nothing sexual ever took place. He has maintained that position throughout the proceedings.

At the time of the alleged offences, Hayler was married to Katie Price, the well-known television personality and former glamour model. The couple's relationship broke down in 2018, and their divorce was finalised 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 against him form part of that wider dispute. The complainant is not a member 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. The case continues before the jury at Lewes Crown Court, where the prosecution is expected to present further evidence in support of the four charges. Hayler, who appeared at court wearing a dark suit and pink shirt and carrying a rucksack, has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The trial raises broader questions about how allegations of historical sexual abuse are investigated and prosecuted, particularly when complainants are minors at the time of the alleged offences and may take years to come forward. Delayed reporting is common in such cases, often due to fear, shame, or the influence of the alleged perpetrator. The court has heard that Hayler allegedly told the complainant to keep quiet, an instruction that, if proven, would form part of the prosecution's case that he sought to conceal the abuse.

As the proceedings move into their next phase, the jury will be asked to weigh the complainant's testimony against Hayler's consistent denials. The burden of proof remains on the prosecution to establish the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. For now, the trial continues, with further witnesses and evidence expected to be presented in the coming days.