August 08, (THEWILL) – A court has heard that former Manchester United and Wales player Ryan Giggs “deliberately headbutted” his ex-girlfriend, but all claims of coercive behaviour and beating his ex-girlfriend and her sister were both denied by Giggs.
But, Peter Wright QC, marshalling the prosecution’s case, told the jury that 36-year-old Kate Greville and 48-year-old Giggs had a relationship that was “punctuated by acts of violence and volatility” and that a “litany of abuse, both physical and psychological” took place in Giggs’ private life.
Between August 2017 and November 2020, Giggs is accused of using coercive and controlling behaviour against his ex-girlfriend Ms. Greville. Additionally, he is accused of assaulting Emma Greville, Ms. Greville’s younger sister, and causing actual bodily damage to both of them on November 1, 2020, at his house in Worsley, Greater Manchester.
Giggs would claim that Greville misunderstood him, had drawn the wrong conclusions, and that he was the victim since his violent behaviour was “interspersed with acts of kindness and contrition” Wright concluded: “We say this was controlling and coercive behaviour. This was a behaviour to gaslight her, and make her pliant and compliant.” He said the behaviour was “calculated.”
In Giggs’ defence, Chris Daw QC labelled the behaviour of his client as immature but argued that “he never once used unlawful violence against Ms Greville,” he said, adding that the case against Giggs was based on “distortion, exaggeration and lies.” Giggs denied all charges and the trial will proceed.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
