Ryan Giggs sent his ex-girlfriend swear-filled texts, urged her to unblock him on the promise he would stop sending nude ‘piccies,’ and kicked her out of a five-star hotel naked after she accused him of flirting with other women, a court heard.
The 48-year-old former Manchester United player sent ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ and ‘Blackmail’ to his ex-girlfriend Emma Greville after she barred him from sending texts.
The ex-Wales winger claimed in the texts, ‘I’m so f****** upset I’m scared myself because I could do anything,’ and ‘I detest you for what you’ve done to me.’ Ugh. Hate, hate, hate
He asked Ms Greville to unblock him in another communication. Blocking is nonsense. No more nude pictures, please.
The court heard about a third note titled “blackmail.” Jurors were informed it included “please” and an unnamed attachment.
Giggs’ lawyers told a judge yesterday that he and Greville acted like’squabbling adolescents’
Chris Daw QC said Giggs “never once used illegal violence” towards her, no matter how bad things became.
The player is accused of manipulating and coercing Ms. Greville, 36, from August 2017 until November 2020.
He’s also accused of hitting and injuring her after a confrontation over his alleged adultery at his £1.7m property.
Giggs is also accused of assaulting Emma Greville at his Worsley house. Giggs denied all claims.
Mr Daw said Giggs recognises that his moral behaviour during their time together was ‘far from flawless’
Mr Daw said the defendant admits he didn’t always manage their fights “well” and the jury may assume the pair acted like “squabbling kids” in their countless messaging exchanges.
Much of the evidence jurors would hear was ‘just what goes on between warring couples every day,’ he warned them.
Mr Daw said the claims were based on distortions, exaggerations, and falsehoods. He said, ‘He attacked no one.’
Mr Daw added that in the weeks before the event, Miss Greville ‘told her pals she wasn’t leaving the relationship empty-handed’
He said they slipped and fell while ‘tussling’ over her phone, and Miss Greville kicked him in the face as he struggled to free himself.
Mr Daw claimed Giggs didn’t know her sister was in the home and didn’t elbow her.
The purported headbutt was a “nasty lie and ludicrous,” he argued, since there was only “minimal and incidental touch” between their faces.
Mr Daw denied the prosecution’s assertion that Giggs subjected Miss Greville to domineering and coercive behaviour by noting that he introduced’most of her customers’ to her throughout their relationship.
She had her own apartment and was able to travel and meet friends, he said, adding that Mr. Giggs did not restrict or compel her.
Jurors shouldn’t judge Giggs on ‘the morality of adultery,’ he told them. ‘Keep your sight on the ball.’
Giggs exposed his girlfriend to a “litany of physical and psychological violence” and headbutted her during a quarrel about his suspected infidelity, the court heard.
Prosecutor Peter Wright QC told Manchester’s Minshull Street Court that Giggs abused a lady he loved.
Giggs would write Ms Greville after she banned him on social media and threaten to reveal ‘personal’ photographs to her friends until she did as he requested.
He reportedly harassed Ms. Greville by showing up at her home or gym.
Mr Wright said, ‘This is compulsive behaviour, not love.’
Mr Wright quoted Giggs’ message: ‘Please unblock me.’ Blocking is nonsense. No more nude pics!’
Giggs sent an email with a blackmail attachment minutes later.
Jurors were asked whether they knew Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Neville, or David Gill, fuelling suspicion they may play a part in the trial.
Prosecutor Peter Wright QC stated of the defendant: ‘His admirers idolised him.’ His soccer abilities were superb.
Off the field, at home or behind closed doors, he had a far darker and more evil side, the facts show.
‘He abused a lady he claimed to love physically and psychologically.
If the evidence is to be accepted, the public and the law handled her in a manner that cannot be forgiven or disregarded.
This is a tale of control and compulsion of a lady who felt she was loved and respected.
After years of upheaval, she realised she needed to leave his area of influence, the barrister said.
Mr Wright claimed Giggs’ decision to break away led to his headbutting Greville on November 1, 2020.
Mr. Wright stated Ms. Greville ended their relationship while with friends at Manchester’s Stock Exchange Hotel.
She knew the defendant was cheating on her, he claimed.
‘The defendant’s behaviour that evening forced her to leave early. She texted her sister before returning home.
She planned to leave before his hotel return. Plan failed.
As she was leaving the defendant’s house, he returned and argued with her.
Prosecutor: She used his phone as a ‘bargaining chip’ to attempt to leave.
Mr. Wright claimed Giggs tried to seize her phone, which was subsequently located on a fence post in the garden.
In the ensuing fight, Ms Greville’s sister intervened.
Emma Greville attempted to pull the defendant off her sister, Mr. Wright said.
The defendant elbowed her in the jaw, causing her agony and disbelief that he would turn violence on her and her sister.
‘Defendant and Kate Greville argued in the kitchen. Couple argued over her phone.
At that point, the defendant lost control and headbutted Kate, inflicting swelling and bruises. Emma contacted police, who responded.
Mr Wright told the jury he would present a’snapshot’ of the defendant’s connection with Ms Greville.
After Ms Greville confronted him about another lady and hurled an object at her in a London hotel room, he tossed her and her possessions out, the jury heard.
Chris Daw QC, Giggs’ lawyer, claimed the ex-footballer believes his moral behaviour during their time together was ‘far from flawless’
Mr Daw added, ‘No matter how bad things became, he never used illegal violence towards Ms Greville.’
His defence is straightforward. These claims are fabricated. Nobody was attacked.
Kate Greville told pals she wouldn’t leave the relationship empty-handed.
He claimed Giggs and Ms Greville both tripped and fell in his kitchen, and she kicked him in the face as he sought to free himself.
He was unaware the complainant’s sister was in the house at the time and did not elbow her.
The purported headbutt was a “nasty lie and a foolish one,” he argued, since there was only “minimal and inadvertent touch” between their faces.
Contrary to Ms Greville’s claims, Mr Giggs did not control or compel.
Ms. Greville was employed by PR agency Tangerine and Giggs’ business, GG Hospitality, throughout the alleged controlling time.
Mr Daw’s customer backed her career goals and introduced most of her clients when she started her own firm and made six figures.
Ms Greville was ‘always financially independent’ and able to travel and meet friends, he added.
Giggs resigned in June after being on vacation since November 2020.
Manchester United won 13 Premier League crowns, 2 Champions League trophies, 4 FA Cups, and 3 League Cups during his tenure.
He’s co-owner of League Two’s Salford City and has 64 Wales caps.
Giggs met Greville when she promoted his Hotel Football venue with Gary Neville.
In December 2017, he divorced Stacey.
Zara Charles, 33, has’supported’ Giggs through the allegations.