Giggs to face trial accused of assaulting and controlling ex-girlfriend

Former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs will go on trial on Monday accused of assaulting and controlling his ex-girlfriend.

Giggs, 48, is accused of using controlling and coercive behaviour against Kate Greville, 36, between August 2017 and November 2020.

He is also charged with assaulting Ms Greville, causing her actual bodily harm, and of the common assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1 2020.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial, estimated to last up to 10 days, will start at Minshull Street Crown Court before it transfers across the city to Manchester Crown Court from Tuesday for the remainder of the proceedings.

The city’s main criminal court at Crown Square had to close last week due to testing for asbestos.

Giggs was set to face trial in January but the hearing was put back because of the ongoing backlog of court cases exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Monday, the jury is expected to be sworn in at Minshull Street before the case is opened by the prosecution.

Judge Hilary Manley will preside over the trial.

Giggs stood down in June as manager of the Wales national team following a period of leave since November 2020.

In a statement, he said he did not want the country’s preparations for this year’s World Cup in Qatar to be “affected, destabilised or jeopardised in any way by the continued interest around this case”.

During Giggs’ time at Old Trafford, Manchester United won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups.

He won 64 caps for Wales and is co-owner of League Two side Salford City.