August 9 – Former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs, worshipped by fans throughout a 24-year career, has a more “sinister” side to his character, prosecutors said Monday, as he went on trial on charges of assault and use of coercive behaviour against an ex-girlfriend and her sister.
Prosecutor Peter Wright told a jury in Manchester that while Giggs’ football skills were “a thing of beauty”, the former Welsh international’s conduct off the pitch was very different.
“In the privacy of his own personal life at home or behind closed doors, there was, we say the facts reveal, a much uglier and more sinister side to his character,” Wright told the jury. “This was a private life that involved a litany of abuse, both physical and psychological, of a woman he professed to love.”
Giggs, 48, is accused of assaulting Kate Greville, and causing actual bodily harm at his home in November 2020. He is also charged with common assault of Greville’s younger sister during the same incident, as well as using controlling and coercive behaviour toward his former girlfriend between August 2017 and November 2020.
Wright said the case stemmed from an incident on November 1, 2020, that began when Giggs and Greville were out with friends.
During the evening, Greville decided to end their relationship because of Giggs’ behaviour and because, it is alleged, she knew he had been cheating on her.
Giggs has denied all of the charges. He stood down as manager of the Wales national team in June, saying he didn’t want to jeopardise preparations for the World Cup later this year in Qatar. Giggs’s defence, Chris Daw QC, said the former United star “never once used unlawful violence against Kate Greville” saying the pair “behaved like squabbling children”.
He said that Giggs acknowledged there was “minor and accidental contact” during a tussle over a mobile phone but denied there was a deliberate headbutt and said it was “not remotely a criminal assault”.
The case continues.
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