RYAN Giggs’ assault trial against ex-girlfriend Kate Greville today sensationally collapsed after jurors were unable to reach a verdict.The ex-Man Utd star, 48, stood trial accused of headbutting PR exec Kate, 38, and coercively controlling her over a three year period.
Ryan Giggs leaving at Manchester Crown Court todayCredit: AFP
The former Manchester United footballer’s ex-girlfriend Kate GrevilleCredit: Tim Stewart
He denied the charges, as well as an allegation he attacked Kate’s sister Emma, 26.
Jurors spent 22 hours and 59 minutes deliberating after being sent out at Manchester Crown Court last Tuesday.
They were formally dismissed today after confirming there was no “realistic prospect” of reaching a verdict.
A hearing is now due to be held on September 7 to decide if there will be a retrial.
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Giggs’ head dropped when the judge said any future trial would not be held until at least June 2023.
In an explosive trial that saw the sports star break down in tears, Kate claimed she became “a slave to his every need”.
She also claimed Giggs “made me feel like I had to do what he said, otherwise there were consequences”.
Jurors previously heard how Kate’s sister Emma was looking after the then-couple’s puppy Mac on November 1, 2020, while they had dinner at the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester.
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Emma said the PR executive was already planning to leave Giggs while he was away on touring duties after finding “evidence” he had cheated on her with eight women.
In later messages read out to the jury this rose to at least 12, and the former Wales boss’ love life was laid bare as he admitted he had never been faithful to any woman, including Kate and ex-wife Stacey.
When an intoxicated Giggs and a “visibly upset” Kate returned home from dinner, Emma said an argument erupted and he picked up some of her sister’s belongings and put them in the hallway.
There was allegedly then “physical contact” and Giggs lay on top of Kate with “his face in line with hers”.
“From her facial expressions I could tell she was in pain,” Emma said.
Kate then yelled “get him off me” and he retreated, but he quickly went from “annoyed to extremely angry” and put both his hands on Kate’s shoulders and headbutted her in the lip, the court was told.
Emma said: “She fell to the ground screaming and covering her face.”
Earlier, the court heard how the couple exchanged 19,671 messages during their six-year relationship.
In one, he told Kate: “I’ll stalk you like mad – I’m good at that”, while in another he warned her: “I will come to yours and I will get in.”
A third read: “I’m so f***ing mad… I am scaring myself. I could do anything.”
He was also accused of bombarding her with sexual texts and threatening to publicly share X-rated videos of them together if she didn’t reply.
Others were cringe-worthy poems in which he told Kate she made him “as hard as a totem pole” and praised her legs and vivaciousness.
Kate said in a police statement, which was read out in court: “He wouldn’t leave me alone.”
‘FLIRT BY NATURE’
Jurors were also told how Giggs is unable to resist an “attractive woman” – regardless of whether he’s in a relationship.
And he admitted that he lied to former wife Stacey and other girlfriends, including Kate, “many times”.
Moments after he began giving evidence, Chris Daw QC, defending, asked: “You’re known in news articles as a love cheat. Is that reputation justified?”
Giggs – who confirmed he’s a “flirt by nature” – replied: “Yes.”
The barrister said: “In the course of your relationship with women, have you managed to be faithful to any of them?”
The footballer said: “No.”
He was also accused of cheating on Kate with a mystery cricketer’s wife, having “full on relationships” with several others, and even plotting threesomes with a woman named Charlotte.
GIGGS ARREST
Giggs was arrested at his £1.7million mansion in Worsley, Gtr Manchester, on November 1, 2020.
He met Giggs when she was working on PR for his Hotel Football business venture, opposite Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.
In April 2018 she 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.
The former Wales boss denied causing Kate actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between December 2017 and November 2020.
He also pleaded not guilty to the common assault by beating of Emma Greville on November 1.
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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.
The former Manchester United star leaves court after jurors failed to reach a verdictCredit: PP.
The jury was dismissed today after failing to reach a verdictCredit: AFP
Kate, 38, accused her former partner of cheating on her with 12 other womenCredit: Tim Stewart More