LEWES CROWN COURT CLEARS KIERAN HAYLER OF CHILD SEX CHARGES

Lewes Crown Court found Kieran Hayler not guilty of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on 22 October. The charges concerned allegations involving a 13-year-old girl in West Sussex in 2016. The court also cleared Hayler of four alternative counts of sexual activity with a child. Katie Price, Hayler’s former wife, gave evidence during the trial.

Hayler’s defence argued that the allegations arose from a feud between him and Price. The couple separated in 2018 and finalised their divorce in 2021. Prosecutor Ryan Richter challenged that account, asking Hayler: “Your feud with Katie Price is not what this case is about, is it?” Hayler replied: “It is.” Richter then asked whether Hayler had raped the girl, and Hayler answered: “I have not.”

During Price’s evidence, the court heard that she had messaged the girl around the time of the alleged incident. In one message, Price said she had been told that Hayler and the girl had kissed and that he had “tried it on” with her. Price later asked the girl: “Did he kiss you? I won’t bring up anymore just want truth.” Questioned by Hayler’s lawyer, Arlette Piercy, Price said she had been shocked by what she heard. The girl was not part of Hayler’s or Price’s extended family.