In a dispute about his alleged infidelity, Ryan Giggs allegedly headbutted his girlfriend at his £1.7 million house and subjected her to a “litany of physical and psychological abuse.”
This was revealed in court today.
The 48-year-old former Manchester United player is accused of abusing his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville, 36, between August 2017 and November 2020.
He is also accused of attacking Emma Greville, her sister, and inflicting her real bodily injury at his house in Worsley, Greater Manchester.
In Manchester’s Minshull Street Court, prosecutor Peter Wright QC said that Giggs’s private life “included a litany of abuse of a lady he purported to love.”
When Ms. Greville banned Giggs on social media, he would write her and threaten to give her friends photographs “of an intimate nature” until she complied, the court heard.
He reportedly harassed Ms. Greville and showed up at her home or gym when he wasn’t invited.
“This was not a show of love,” Mr. Wright said, “this is compulsive behaviour on his part.”
One communication from Giggs that said, “Please unblock me,” was referenced by Mr. Wright. This blocking nonsense is a waste of time. I’ll keep my word—no more nude photos.
A short while afterwards, Giggs sent an email with an attachment and the word “Blackmail” in the subject line.
The question of whether the jury members knew Sir Alex Ferguson, former defender Gary Neville, or businessman David Gill personally today has sparked suspicion that the three men would play a part in the trial.
To every case, Giggs has entered a not guilty plea.
During the case’s opening statement, the prosecution, Peter Wright QC, described the defendant as being worshipped by his devoted followers and admirers. His abilities on the field were many and stunning.
There was, we claim the facts demonstrate, a more darker and more evil aspect to his character off the field, in the seclusion of his own personal life at home or behind closed doors.
This man’s private life included a long list of physical and psychological abuses against a lady he claimed to love.
“A lady who, in truth, was handled in a manner that cannot be justified or disregarded, either by an adoring audience or the law,” according to the evidence.
Sadly, the truth was far different from how the lady who believed she was loved and respected was controlled and coerced in this narrative.
“Eventually, after years of turmoil, when the scales removed from her eyes, she realised she needed to withdraw herself from his area of influence,” the barrister concluded.
Mr. Wright said that the incident on November 1, 2020, when Giggs allegedly “lost control” and headbutted Ms. Greville, was caused by this decision to split apart.
That evening, while out with friends at Manchester’s Stock Exchange Hotel, Ms Greville made the decision to break up with them, according to Mr. Wright.
She was aware that the defendant had cheated on her once again, he said.
She made the choice to leave early because of the defendant’s behaviour toward her throughout the evening. She sent her sister a text message outlining her strategy before leaving for home.
She had planned to leave before he returned from the motel. The strategy failed.
“As she was leaving the defendant’s home address, he returned and started yelling with her and attempted to keep her from leaving,” the prosecution claims.
According to the prosecution, she used his phone as a “bargaining chip” to try to convince him not to stop her from leaving.
Following a violent dispute, Giggs made an effort to take her phone, which was subsequently discovered in the property’s garden on a fence post, according to Mr. Wright.
They struggled on the ground during the ensuing brawl until Ms. Greville’s sister intervened, according to testimony given in court.
According to Mr. Wright, Emma Greville attempted to seize the defendant from her sister.
We claim that the defendant purposefully elbowed her in the jaw to cause her pain and astonishment at his decision to use violence against both her and her sister.
The dispute between Kate Greville and the defendant went into the kitchen. Her cell phone was the topic of their ongoing argument.
At that point, according to our account, the defendant completely lost control and intentionally headbutted Kate, hurting and swelling her lips. After then, Emma phoned the police, who came to the scene.
Mr. Wright informed the jury that he would provide a “snapshot” of the nature of the defendant’s connection with Ms. Greville, a lady who was almost ten years younger than him.
The jury was told that during an altercation in a London hotel room during which Ms. Greville questioned him about another lady and hurled an object at him, he forcefully pushed her and her possessions out of the residence where they were living.
Giggs’ attorney, Chris Daw QC, said that the former player fully recognises that at times during their time together, his moral behaviour was “far from flawless.”
Despite how tense things were, Mr. Daw said that he never once used criminal force against Ms. Greville throughout their relationship.
“His response to the attacks is straightforward. These charges are supported by falsehoods, exaggerations, and distortions. He didn’t attack anybody.
Kate Greville told her pals in the weeks before that she was resolved not to leave the relationship empty-handed.
He said that Ms. Greville kicked him in the face as he attempted to free himself from Giggs after they both fell on the ground in his kitchen.
He claimed that Ms. Greville was not even aware that the complainant’s sister was there at the time and did not elbow her.
The evidence would demonstrate that there was just “minimal and inadvertent touch” between their faces, not a headbutt as claimed, he said.
In direct contrast to the portrayal of Ms. Greville, he said, “Mr. Giggs did not dominate or compel in any way.”
The court was informed that Ms. Greville worked for Giggs’ own business, GG Hospitality, as well as PR agency Tangerine during a portion of the allegedly controlling behaviour.
According to Mr. Daw, his customer supported her professional aspirations and introduced the majority of her clients once she founded her own firm and began earning a six-figure income.
He said Ms. Greville was always entirely self-sufficient in money and had the freedom to see her friends and travel.
After taking a leave of absence starting in November 2020, Giggs resigned in June as the manager of the Wales national team.
Manchester United won 13 Premier League championships, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups, and three League Cups while he was at Old Trafford.
He has 64 Wales appearances under his belt and co-owns League Two team Salford City.
In 2013, Ms. Greville assisted Giggs in promoting his Hotel Football establishment, which he had founded with his former United colleague Gary Neville.
In December 2017, he filed for divorce from Stacey.
Giggs rekindled his romance with 33-year-old lingerie model Zara Charles, who had “supported” him throughout the allegations.