Ryan Giggs 'deeply relieved' after being found not guilty of domestic abuse allegations as case dropped

Ryan Giggs is 'deeply relieved' that he has been found not guilty of domestic abuse charges and will now 'look to rebuild his life and career as an innocent man', his lawyer said. The Manchester United legend was found not guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Ms Greville and common assault of her sister, Emma Greville.

Both gave evidence at a trial held last summer. Jurors were unable to reach verdicts on any of the three counts, and a re-trial was scheduled for July 31. But prosecutors said that in the lead up to the second trial, Kate Greville had 'indicated an unwillingness to give evidence again'.

"It is a process that has taken its toll on them, but in particular on Kate Greville," prosecutor Peter Wright KC said during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday morning. "The welfare of complainants are at the centre of the decision making process.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features

Mr Wright said Ms Greville's indication was 'not simply taken at face value'. "It was the subject of protracted efforts to understand from her the reason that lay behind this expression of unwillingness," Mr Wright said.

He said that the prosecution could have sought a witness summons to force her to attend court, but the Crown 'didn't consider it appropriate to seek to compel her to give evidence'. "This was not a decision taken lightly," Mr Wright said.

Mr Wright said: "In cases such as this, ambivalence on the part of the complainant is not uncommon." He said that 'reluctance on the part of a complainant is not to be interpreted as an inevitable end to a prosecution'.

Mr