Katie Price's ex-husband Kieran Hayler told 13-year-old girl who accused him of rape that she could be his 'best friend as he had no mates', court hears

Katie Price's former husband Kieran Hayler told his schoolgirl rape accuser she could be his best friend as he had no others, a court heard. Hayler, 39, denies assaulting the girl when she was 13 years old, at his Lewes Crown Court trial in East Sussex.Mr Hayler is accused of raping the girl, now aged 23, on three different occasions and sexually assaulting her in 2016. Her mother told a jury her daughter liked the way Mr Hayler talked to her, saying: '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.'Asked why she did not tell anybody else about the rape allegations until after Ms Price contacted social services in 2018, the mother said: 'I had to keep her secret and her trust. 'I couldn't tell my husband because I knew what the consequences would be. I didn't want any of this for her.' The mother has denied she was influenced by Katie Price to come to court and said her daughter was not interested in becoming a celebrity. Kieran Hayler, 39, is pictured arriving at Lewes Crown Court for his trial on Friday morningIn a text message exchange between Ms Price and the girl, the jury heard the reality star offered to make her a 'little star'.The messages were read out to her mother during her second day in the witness box.Arlette Piercy, for the defence, asked the mother if she was aware of the messages. The witness replied: 'My daughter wasn't interested in becoming a star.'Ms Piercy challenged the mother on what she knew about the allegations and when, asking: 'You didn't believe anything had happened, did you, and you didn't do anything about it did you?'The mother replied: 'Yes, I did. I believed my daughter.' The jury heard earlier in the trial Mr Hayler believes he is being set up by his former wife. Ryan Richter, for the Crown, asked the mother whether anybody had tried to influence her to come forward, saying: 'Have you come to court to support her by making that up?' Hayler and Katie Price were wed between 2013 and 2021 - they are seen here at a Leicester Square movie premiere in London in May 2013 Hayler and Katie Price are pictured together at a London film premiere in November 2015'No, I have not,' the mother said. When he asked her, 'Have you been influenced or pressured by anybody to come to court and make that up?', she replied: 'No, nobody.'She also told the court she had been for forgiveness counselling from a kinesiology therapist, adding: 'I've got arthritis, but he also does psychic healing.' In 2021, the complainant contacted the NSPCC charity which referred her to the police, prompting the investigation.Hayler was first interviewed by police in January 2022 and denied any of the allegations took place and that anything sexual occurred.Giving evidence to jurors on Tuesday, the complainant told the court that Hayler texted her after the third alleged rape, saying, 'I love you goodnight,' and she replied: 'I love you too.'Jurors heard when the trial opened on Monday that Hayler will say Ms Price made up the allegations as part of a campaign against him.Hayler believes the allegations were 'created' and he was being 'set up' after the breakdown of their marriage.Jurors were told mother-of-five Ms Price, 48, will be called as a witness in the trial.His Honour Judge Mark Van Der Zwart described Ms Price as a media personality who the jury had likely heard of.Former stripper and reality TV star Hayler met Ms Price in 2012 and proposed on Christmas Day. They married at a luxury Caribbean resort the following year.In a previous statement, Sussex Police said: 'We can confirm Kieran Hayler, of Northchapel, West Sussex, has been charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl.'The offences are alleged to have occurred at an address in West Sussex between June 1 and October 13, 2016.'The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has received support from specially trained officers as our enquiries continue.'A representative for Hayler has previously said: 'Kieran Hayler strongly denies the allegations made against him in their entirety.'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.'The alleged victim is not part of Hayler or Ms Price’s extended families.Hayler denies rape and sexual assault. The trial at Lewes Crown Court continues.