Ryan Giggs will not face a second trial on charges of domestic violence later this month, after prosecutors dropped the case against him.
The former Manchester United player was due to go on trial for a second time on July 31, accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville, causing actual bodily harm, and using controlling and coercive behaviour against her between August 2017 to November 2020.
The 49-year-old was also charged with the common assault of Kate’s sister Emma during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1, 2020.
Giggs denied the offences and underwent a month-long trial last August, but the jury failed to reach any verdicts.
Prosecutors were later granted an application for a retrial, scheduled to begin on July 31.
But on Tuesday morning, prosecutor Peter Wright KC told the Manchester Crown Court that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had decided to drop the case because Ms Greville, 38, did not want to give evidence again.
“It is a case that has taken its toll on them both but in particular on Miss Kate Greville,” he told Judge Hilary Manley.
“We formally offer no evidence on counts one, two and three on this indictment,” he told the court.
In response, Judge Manley said: “I formally enter not guilty verdicts in respect of each of the three counts.”
Chris Daw KC, representing Giggs, said his client was “deeply relieved the prosecution has finally come to an end after almost three years in which he’s been fighting throughout to clear his name”.
“He’s now been found not guilty of all the charges and going forward would like to rebuild his life and career as an innocent man.”
