Former Reality Star Partner Faces Serious Charges
Kieran Hayler, the former husband of media personality Katie Price, has made his first court appearance after being charged with serious sexual offences against a child.
The 38-year-old arrived at Crawley Magistrates' Court on November 19 to face multiple charges relating to incidents alleged to have occurred in 2016.
Details of the Charges
Hayler faces three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a girl who was just 13 years old at the time of the alleged offences.
According to Sussex Police, the offences are alleged to have taken place between June 1 and October 13, 2016. Hayler, who resides in Northchapel, West Sussex, was formally charged last month and had been released under investigation before today's hearing.
Court Appearance and Legal Response
Dressed in a black coat, black trousers and a white shirt, Hayler attended court for his initial hearing. While he has not spoken publicly about the allegations, his legal representative issued a strong statement of denial.
"Kieran Hayler strongly denies the allegations made against him in its entirety," the statement read. "Mr Hayler is fully engaged and has been co-operating with the police throughout the investigation and will continue to do so. He looks forward to his name being cleared believing in the judicial system to do so."
Police confirmed that the young victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has received support from specially trained officers throughout the investigation.
Support for Those Affected
If you are 18 or under and have been affected by this story, you can contact Childline confidentially on 0800 1111.
You can also contact the NSPCC Helpline by phoning 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@nspcc.org.uk. If a child is in immediate danger, always call 999.
If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999.
