Ryan Giggs arrives at Manchester court for assault trial

Former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs has arrived at court to face trial accused of assaulting and controlling his ex-girlfriend.

Mr Giggs, 48, stood in the dock at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester and identified himself to the clerk as the judge came into court shortly before 11am.

A jury to hear the trial will be selected later before the trial begins with the prosecution opening by Peter Wright QC.

Mr Giggs 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 1 November 2020.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial, before Judge Hilary Manley, is estimated to last up to ten days.

Mr Giggs was initially 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.

Mr 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".