Ryan Giggs to appear in court on assault charges
Ryan Giggs pleads not guilty to charges of coercive control and assaulting his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville and her sister in ‘row’ at £1.7m mansion
- Wales manager, 47, denies assaulting the PR, 36, executive at home in Worsley
- Prosecutors claim Giggs then hit her younger sister during the same incident
- The former Manchester United winger has denied all the charges against him
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs drunkenly headbutted his former girlfriend Kate Greville at his £1.7million mansion and left her in fear of violence on ‘many occasions’, a court heard today.
The Wales manager, 47, denies assaulting the 36-year-old PR executive at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1 and then hitting her younger sister, Emma, during the same alleged incident.
Giggs has also been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour over his relationship with Ms Greville, with prosecutors alleging the abuse lasted almost three years from December 2017 and November 2020.
Giggs, wearing a black suit, white shirt and dark blue tie, appeared in the dock at Manchester Magistrates’ Court for his first appearance today as the three charges against him were read out and he entered his not guilty pleas.
Prosecutor Andrea Griffiths said there was a pattern of ‘controlling behaviour’ from the ex-United star. He added that he Giggs ‘isolated’ Kate from her ‘work colleagues and friends’ and he subjected her to ‘degrading treatment’ designed to ‘keep her in the relationship’.
Ms Griffiths added that ‘there was fear of violence on many occasions’.
There was no sign of either of the Greville sisters at today’s hearing, which lasted 13 minutes. Giggs’ conditions of bail are he must not contact Kate or Emma Greville or go to any address where they are.
Ryan Giggs, 47, was seen arriving at Manchester Magistrates Court wearing a black suit, white shirt and a dark blue tie, surrounded by a large security escort
The Wales manager (seen outside court today) has said he will deny all the charges against him
Last week it was revealed Giggs had found love with a lingerie model who has ‘supported’ him through the charges.
The 47-year-old was photographed holding hands with Zara Charles, 33, in Hale, Cheshire, during an afternoon walk.
Giggs has been released on bail ahead of the court appearance. The star denies all claims made against him.
He last when the charges were announced: ‘I have full respect for the due process of law and understand the seriousness of the allegations.
‘I will plead not guilty in court and look forward to clearing my name.’
Police were called to Giggs’ address at 10.05pm on November 1 to reports of a disturbance. A woman in her 30s was treated for injuries at the scene.
The former footballer was arrested and later bailed pending further inquiries.
Giggs met Kate in 2013 after she helped promote his Hotel Football venue, launched with ex-United teammate Gary Neville.
Giggs and Kate Greville pictured together on holiday in Ravello, Italy, back in 2018
The PR executive walked with a friend and her Labrador, Mac, two weeks after the ‘disturbance,’ at the home she shared with the ex-footballer in Worsley, Salford
The Wales manager was photographed holding hands with Zara Charles (pictured), 33, in Hale, Cheshire, during an afternoon walk last week
Giggs went public with the relationship with Ms Greville in 2018 after whisking her away for a holiday in Italy, eight months after his divorce.
He divorced his wife Stacey in December 2017 and they finalised a £40million settlement after he cheated on her with model and Big Brother star Imogen Thomas during their 10-year marriage.
Giggs has missed Wales’ recent Nations League fixtures, following his arrest late last year.
In April 2018 Ms Greville was appointed head of PR and communications for GG Hospitality, the hospitality management firm co-owned by Giggs and former United team-mate Gary Neville.
She was involved in the launch of their Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester city centre before she took up a new PR consultancy post last July with a former employer.
Giggs’ ex-girlfriend Kate Greville was spotted walking in the days after the alleged assault with a bruised lip (circled)
The Wales manager has missed his country’s recent Nations League fixtures, following his arrest late last year
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has announced caretaker boss Robert Page will manage the country at this summer’s European Championship finals.
Giggs won 64 caps for Wales and had a glittering playing career with Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
He is also a co-owner of League Two side Salford City.
Giggs initially stood down from managing the Welsh national team following his arrest in November.
The Welsh FA then announced caretaker boss Robert Page would continue to manage the side at this summer’s European Championship finals.
The former winger won 64 caps for Wales and had a glittering playing career with Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups and three League Cups
