Ryan Giggs trial: Kate Greville told friend bruise was from rough sex

Ryan Giggs allegedly exchanged "provocative" and "flirty" messages with his ex Kate Greville when they were both married to other people. The 48-year-old former Wales manager is on trial for controlling behavior towards Ms Greville between 2017 and 2020.

He is also accused of headbutting her during an argument at their home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, and of elbowing his sister Emma Greville in the jaw in November 2020. Manchester Crown Court heard the couple met in 2013 and first slept together in late 2014 when they were both married.

During cross-examination, Ms Greville was shown a series of messages from August 2017 after she sent Giggs a "photo of herself in a crop top and underwear". Giggs replied, “Amazing pout too!! X” and “Takes me back to your first abs pic. I was like wow I'm in love".

Ms Greville replied, "It was so mean of me to send you that picture" and Giggs replied, "I know, but you knew what you were doing." She would then have sent a message: "I knew exactly what I was doing".

Chris Daw QC, defending Giggs, has asked Ms Greville why she sent Giggs a 'provocative photo' of herself while he was married to ex-wife Stacey Cooke. Ms. Greville said: "I knew showing him a picture of me and my abs in my gym kit would appeal to him."

When asked if she thought it would make Giggs "more interested" in her, she replied, "I played a part in it. I never said I didn't." I didn't, but he definitely insisted and I knew he was interested. Of course, I knew what I was doing.

"It went on for a year, I wasn't interested, I wasn't reacting to anything he said, I wasn't reacting to anything he sent me. Then, after a year, I returned that affection."

She left her husband two months after sleeping with Giggs, the court heard. Mr Daw also asked Ms Greville if she put 'relentless pressure' on Giggs to leave his wife before the affair leaked in 2016.

Ms Greville said: 'Because he kept saying he was going to leave his wife and it wasn't happening and he kept contacting me.' The defense attorney said Giggs "particularly struggled" as he shared two children with Stacey and worried about the impact on them.

He said the marriage had broken down when news of the affair with Ms Greville leaked to the press in May 2016. Mr Daw also told the court that the 'real problem' in the couple's relationship was that "Mr. Giggs couldn't be faithful".

Ms Greville said: "It was part of the problem, yes. It was not the main problem. It was part of the situation. It created problems, it was not the whole problem. The witness was also asked about testimony she gave yesterday about Giggs assaulting her on several occasions during their relationship.

While on vacation in Dubai, she claimed Giggs grabbed her by the wrist and threw her naked outside a hotel room with all her belongings. The defense attorney read a message from Ms. Greville to Giggs in which she said, "Ps, my sexual bruise is coming along well too!"

She also told a friend it was caused by rough sex, the court heard. When asked about it, Ms. Greville replied, "Because I was embarrassed and didn't want to admit it."

Mr. Daw said, "The idea that it's a sexual bruise is just a trick you came up with is ridiculous, isn't it? The truth is that once in a while you've had bruising from sex."

Ms. Greville said, "Not that I remember." Mr Daw also told the court that Giggs was "afraid" of hurting Ms Greville during sex.

Jurors saw another message in which Ms. Greville said she wanted Giggs to be "tough", adding, "I just want this to shock and surprise me" to which Giggs replies, "That's a fine line".

"We'll just have to have fun finding that line then," Ms. Greville replied. Giggs also sent a photo of handcuffs and a paddle to Ms. Greville, to which she replied, "They're amazing… Oh my god, that's awesome."

Testifying, Ms. Greville said, "We never used that paddle." Giggs, who denies all charges, won 64 caps for Wales and 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups during his time at Manchester United. He is also co-owner of Salford City's League Two side.

The trial continues.