Katie Price believed a teenage girl allegedly raped by her ex-husband was “afraid”, and she was “really shocked” by the allegations, a court has heard.
The media personality began giving evidence behind a screen in Kieran Hayler’s rape trial at Lewes Crown Court on Monday.
Hayler, 39, is accused of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in West Sussex in 2016.
Ms Price told jurors of the allegations: “I was shocked… like really shocked. It was a different kettle of fish, it’s a child.”
Katie Price arrives at Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex (Jim Bennett/PA)
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She told the court she confronted her husband at the time, asking if he had “done stuff” with the teenage girl.
Asked by prosecutor Ryan Richter what his response was, Ms Price said: “I can’t remember his response but his response all the time was ‘no I hadn’t’.”
Ms Price said she could tell the teenage girl, who was allegedly raped by her then-husband, was “afraid” from messages they exchanged.
The former glamour model was asked about messages between her and the complainant, saying: “I can’t remember the exact messages, but it was that Kieran had tried to kiss her, that he had done stuff to her.”
Pressed on what was said, Ms Price told jurors: “Definitely a kiss and that he said he loved her.”
Katie Price (right) leaves after giving evidence at Lewes Crown Court (Jim Bennett/PA)
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“I wanted to get information out of (the complainant) because it’s serious,” she added.
“I could tell that she was, like, afraid.”
She said she did not speak to the girl about the allegations face to face, and was asked whether she asked her to report it to the police.
“I was going through it myself. I was having a breakdown at that point,” she said.
“I had to go in the Priory.”
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 has heard.
He was married to 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.