Katie Price's ex-husband Kieran Hayler pictured at court after being charged with rape and sexual assault of girl, 13

Sussex Police said the girl could not be named for legal reasons, and the alleged victim is not part of Mr Hayler or Ms Price's extended families.

Police said the girl had been receiving support from specially-trained officers as inquiries continued.

At the time of the charges, a representative for Mr Hayler said, according to The Sun: “Kieran Hayler strongly denies the allegations made against him in its 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.”

Mr Hayler kept his head down and refused to interact with photographers as he approached the court on Wednesday.

He wore a zipped-up coat as he walked through wind, snow, and rain towards the court.

Mr Hayler previously worked as a stripper and actor. He married Ms Price at a Bahamian luxury resort in 2013.

Ms Price had previously been married to Peter Andre and Alex Reid, making Mr Hayler her third husband.

They share two children together. Their eldest child, Jett, 12, was born on August 12, 2013, and Bunny, 11, arrived almost exactly a year later on August 4, 2014.

The couple split in 2018 as cheating allegations aimed at Mr Hayler plagued their marriage. They formally divorced in 2021.

Following the breakdown in his marriage to Ms Price, Mr Hayler later got engaged to Michelle Penticost.

Ms Penticost and Mr Hayler share a son named Apollo, but separated in February this year.