'The reality is the truth has caught up with him, and now it's his time to pay the price' - Prosecutor makes closing speech in Ryan Giggs trial

Prosecutors claimed the 'truth has caught up with' Ryan Giggs as lawyers began their closing speeches at the former Manchester United star's trial.

Mr Giggs, 48, is accused of displaying controlling or coercive behaviour towards his former girlfriend, PR executive Kate Greville. He is also charged with headbutting her at his home in Worsley, and elbowing her sister Emma Greville on the same occasion on November 1, 2020.

The former Wales international denies all charges.

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As the Manchester Crown Court trial reached its third week, prosecutor Peter Wright QC made his closing speech to the jury, lasting nearly 40 minutes.

"This is not a case about the frailty of the human condition, or what, as the defendant put it, in terms of what he is known for," he said. "It is about what he is not known for, what lies beneath the surface of his character.

"It is about the abuse of power by a man of another human being. It is actually a tale as old as the hills, and it reveals itself in this case before your eyes and your ears from that 999 call."

Mr Wright claimed a 999 call made by Emma Greville on November 1, 2020, represented a 'microcosm' of the case.

He said: "In that microcosm, what we have is unlawful acts of violence by the defendant in counts two and three, an attempt by him to abdicate any responsibility on his part from what he has done in these acts of violence by blaming another."

The QC claimed Mr Giggs then used 'emotional blackmail as a last resort' after referring to his daughter.

He added: "It (the case) is about a man who thinks or thought he could do whatever he liked in respect of his treatment of Kate Greville, and thought he