Prosecutors reveal why Ryan Giggs’ domestic abuse charges have been dropped – and ex-footballer WON’T face second trial
PROSECUTORS have revealed why Ryan Giggs’ domestic abuse charges have been dropped.
It was this morning revealed that the ex-footballer, 48, won’t face a second trial for allegedly attacking his former partner Kate Greville.
The former Man Utd ace was accused of assaulting the 36-year-old at his £1.7million home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1, 2020.
He was also charged with attacking her sister Emma Greville on the same date and controlling or coercive behaviour against Kate over a three-year period.
The Crown Prosecution Service today revealed it had abandoned the charges ahead of a planned retrial.
Prosecutor Peter Wright KC told Manchester Crown Court they were formally offering no evidence.
The barrister said Kate had “indicated an unwillingness” to give evidence in a re-trial as giving evidence in the first trial had “taken its toll” on her and her sister Emma.
Mr Wright told the court: “This is not a decision taken lightly.”
He explained there was no realistic prospect of a conviction on the count of coercive control, telling the court it was no longer in the public interest to proceed to prosecute on the other charges of assault.
The prosecutor added: “That being the case, we formally offer no evidence on counts one, two and three.”
Judge Hilary Manley then told the court: “I formally enter not guilty verdicts in respect of those counts.”
Speaking after the decision, Giggs’ lawyer said he was “deeply relieved” after “fighting throughout” for three years to clear his name.
He added: “He will now seek to rebuild his life as an innocent man”.
Last August jurors failed to reach a verdict following a three-week trial, with a re-trial scheduled to begin on July 31.
In the wake of the allegations last year Giggs stepped down as manager of the Wales international team.
The ex-footballer, who won 64 caps for his country, had been on leave from his post since November 2020.
Giggs 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.
Kate 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.
Giggs denied causing her 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.
The footballer previously issued a statement in which he said he would “look forward to clearing my name”.