Kieran Hayler told alleged rape victim she could be his 'best friend', Lewes court hears
The ex-husband of Kate Price denies three counts of rape and one of sexual assault
The ex-husband of Kate Price told a 13-year-old girl he allegedly raped that “she could be his best friend”, the child’s mother has told a court.
Kieran Hayler is on trial at Lewes Crown Court accused of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against the teenager in West Sussex in 2016.
On Friday, the mother of the teenager described to the court what her daughter told her about 39-year-old Hayler.
She 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.”
The complainant first contacted the NSPCC in 2021 over the allegations. The charity then referred her to the police, prompting the investigation.
On Thursday, her mother told the court that a year after the alleged rapes her daughter disclosed to her that Hayler had “done everything to her” to which she was “shocked”.
She told jurors she tried to ask her daughter to explain but she said “I can’t tell you any more” and then she “couldn’t speak”.
“I said ‘what has he done to you?’ And she cried more and then she just said ‘he’s done everything to me, mummy’.”
In cross-examination, defence counsel Arlette Piercy put to her: “I suggest nothing had happened and you knew nothing happened.”
The complainant’s mother replied: “That’s not correct.”
She also told the court: “I did believe my daughter.”
Hayler denies the charges and suggests his ex-wife had “launched a campaign” against him when their marriage ended, and the allegations form part of this, the court heard.
He was married to media personality Ms Price at the time of the allegations, before the couple’s relationship broke down in 2018 and they divorced in 2021.
The alleged victim is not part of Hayler or Ms Price’s extended families.
The trial continues.