Katie Price Sent 'I Will Make You a Little Star' Messages to Teen Alleged Victim, Court Hears

Messages exchanged between Katie Price and the teenage girl who alleges she was raped by Price's then-husband Kieran Hayler have been read aloud at Lewes Crown Court, where Hayler is standing trial on serious sexual offence charges.

Hayler, a former television personality and equestrian, faces three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to a girl who was 13 years old at the time of the alleged offences in 2016. The allegations concern events said to have taken place in West Sussex. Hayler denies every charge against him and has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The court was told that Price, who was married to Hayler during the period in question, sent messages to the complainant when the girl was 14 years old. In one of the messages shown to the jury, Price reportedly told the teenager: "I will make you a little star." According to the evidence presented, Price had also said she had heard that Hayler and the girl had kissed and that he had "tried it on" with her.

The jury heard that Price pressed the girl for information, stating: "I'm only asking as this is a serious allegation." In the messages, Price also asked directly whether Hayler had kissed her, adding that she would not raise the matter again but wanted the truth. The complainant, according to the court, responded by describing the situation as "just a flirt thing" and insisted that "nothing happened."

Price further questioned the teenager about whether Hayler had ever expressed romantic interest in her, asking if he had said he liked or fancied her. The girl replied: "Yes, but I took it as a joke," the court heard.

Under cross-examination, the complainant — who is now an adult — was asked why she had told Price that nothing had happened. She told the court she had been "trying to brush it off." When pressed on what she understood Price to mean by the phrase "I will make you a little star," the woman said she did not believe she had responded at all, adding: "I think I just ignored it."

The trial also heard evidence about text messages exchanged between the complainant and Hayler. The court was told that the girl had deleted messages in which she and Hayler exchanged declarations of love, including "I love you" messages. According to her testimony, she removed the messages after Hayler allegedly instructed her to get rid of them.

Jurors previously heard that following the third alleged rape, Hayler sent the girl a text message saying "I love you goodnight," to which she responded: "I love you too."

Arlette Piercy, defending Hayler, put it to the complainant that the alleged rapes and sexual assault never occurred. The woman rejected that suggestion firmly, telling the jury: "I would never make it up."

Piercy also told the court that it was not accepted on Hayler's behalf that any such messages had ever been sent to the complainant. When questioned about the deleted texts, the woman said they were "deleted, long gone, years ago." Asked whether she had been the one to delete them, she confirmed: "Yes, I did. Kieran Hayler was asking to delete my messages."

The court has heard that Hayler and Price were married at the time of the allegations, but their relationship deteriorated and broke down in 2018. The couple divorced in 2021. Hayler's defence case suggests that Price launched a campaign against him when their marriage ended, and that the allegations formed part of that campaign, the court was told.

The alleged victim is not a member of either Hayler's or Price's extended families, the jury heard.

Hayler, who has appeared at court in a dark suit and pink shirt, continues to deny all charges. The case, which is being heard at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex, is ongoing, and further evidence is expected to be presented in the coming days. The trial continues.

The charges against Hayler carry significant legal weight, and under English law, defendants in rape trials are entitled to a fair hearing with the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The jury will ultimately decide the facts of the case based on the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence.

Reporting on sexual offence cases in England and Wales is subject to strict legal restrictions. Under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, complainants in sexual offence cases are automatically granted lifetime anonymity, meaning neither their name nor any information that could lead to their identification may be published. This protection is intended to encourage victims to report offences and to participate in the criminal justice process without fear of public exposure.

The case has attracted considerable media attention due to the high-profile nature of those involved. Hayler rose to public prominence through his marriage to Price, a well-known television personality, author and former model. Their relationship was widely covered in the British press, and the breakdown of their marriage has been the subject of extensive media scrutiny. The trial has therefore drawn significant interest from journalists and members of the public alike.

Legal experts note that cases involving historical allegations of sexual offences against minors are often complex, frequently relying on witness testimony and contemporaneous communications such as text messages. The reliability of digital evidence and the credibility of witnesses are typically central issues in such trials, and juries are directed to weigh all evidence carefully before reaching a verdict.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court continues, with further testimony expected. Hayler maintains his innocence on all counts, and the proceedings will determine whether the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.