Ryan Giggs trial - live: Footballer admits he’s never been faithful but denies assault

Court proceedings were adjourned for lunch and will be returning after 2.30pm.

Ryan Giggs said he was “proud” of Kate Greville's success and that she retained her independence throughout the relationship.

His statement to police said there were occasions when Ms Greville had tried to “control our relationship,” including one incident when she was jealous of his “contact with other females”.

Mr Giggs said: “She ordered me to message certain women with whom she incorrectly accused me of having an affair.

“She dictated the content of the messages and watched me while I sent them.”

He described the relationship as mainly “wonderful,” adding: “We would, of course, argue, but neither of us had any more control over the other.”

In a further statement to police, Ryan Giggs said the relationship being described was “not the one I understood it to be”.

He said: “It has been suggested these incidents happened when I was the worse for drink, when in fact Kate becomes jealous when she is drunk, and admits goading me for a reaction.

“I would never react with violence.

“Despite allegations of violence, I often walk away from incidents.”

Mr Giggs added that rather than the arguments being caused by him being “defensive” over allegations of cheating, they started for “all sorts of reasons, including me suggesting she was flirting with other males”.

“I feel extremely distressed, hurt and emotional by the way this relationship is being painted to me,” he said.

“I had no idea Kate was planning to end the relationship, I have only learned this since the incident.”

The sister of Ryan Giggs’s ex-partner has accused the footballer of threatening to “headbutt you next”, moments after he allegedly assaulted her older sibling – who she said “fell to the ground screaming and covering her face”.

As the trial of the former Manchester United player entered its second week on Monday, 26-year-old Emma Greville gave evidence against her sister Kate Greville’s ex-partner, who is accused of controlling and coercive behaviour during their relationship.

The sportsman has pleaded not guilty to the charge, alleged to have taken place between August 2017 and November 2020, and also to allegations of causing his ex-partner actual bodily harm, and the assault by beating of her younger sister.

Ex-Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs told police his “head clashed” with his girlfriend's during a “scuffle” over a mobile phone but the blow was “not deliberate”, a court has heard.

Mr Giggs was interviewed by detectives the day after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting his ex-partner, Kate Greville, 38, and her younger sister, Emma Greville, during an the incident at the defendant's home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on 1 November 2020.

Jurors at Manchester Crown Court were told on Tuesday that the 48-year-old provided officers with a hand-written prepared statement which began with the words: “At this stage I feel very emotional about the incident”.

“I accept during the tussle she caught me in the face, causing bleeding to the lip and inner mouth.

“I may have caught her and her sister during the scuffle but at no time was there any attempt to harm either of them.”

He said he asked both sisters to leave his house, but they refused.

Ryan Giggs is set to give evidence today on day seven of his trial.

Manchester Crown Court has heard of his turbulent relationship with ex-girlfriend Kate Greville which ended with the former footballer accused of assaulting his then partner and her younger sister.

In a prepared defence statement given to police and read in court by prosecutor Peter Wright QC, Giggs said: “I will not accept that my behaviour towards my former partner has been in any way controlling or coercive, nor that I have done any of the incidents in the manner described.”

In response to an allegation that he had threatened to release intimate photos of Ms Greville and/or himself, Mr Giggs’ statement said he “didn't recall” making the threat and would “never” have released such material.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of day seven of the Ryan Giggs trial where the former Manchester United footballer has been accused of assault of his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville and her sister, as well as coercive and controlling behaviour.