The former Manchester United footballer is on trial accused of using controlling and coercive behavior against Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020. He is also accused of assaulting Ms Greville and her sister Emma, ​​who was allegedly elbowed in the jaw. Giggs denies all the allegations against him. Read live updates from the test as it happened On the opening day of the trial in Manchester, prosecutor Peter Wright QC said Giggs was “idolatrous” for his skills on the pitch which were “a thing of beauty” but had a “very ugly and more sinister side to his character”. behind closed doors. “This was a private life involving a litany of abuse, both physical and psychological, of a woman he professed to love,” Mr Wright told the jury. “This is a story of control and coercion of a woman who thought she was loved and respected; unfortunately the reality was very different.” Image: Ryan Giggs on trial accused of assaulting and controlling Kate Greville (pictured) Mr Wright said Giggs and Ms Greville had been in a relationship in 2017 and that over time the former Wales player’s behavior had become “increasingly controlling”. The lawyer said there was “calculated emotional abuse” and “a deliberate behaviour” by Giggs “to put her on the gas to doubt herself and her instincts”. Giggs would threaten to send “personal” images of Ms Greville to her friends unless she did what he said. He also “harassed” Ms Greville with texts and showed up “unwanted” at her home or at the gym she used, the jury heard. The former midfielder physically threw Ms Greville and her belongings out of the address they were staying at after she questioned him about another woman, the prosecutor said. He also threw an object at her in a London hotel room failure, the court was told. “This was not an expression of love, this is obsessive behavior on his part,” Mr Wright said. The prosecutor read some of the “thousands” of messages Giggs and Ms Greville are said to have exchanged. It quoted one from Giggs, who reportedly said: “Please unblock me. All this blocking is evil. Promise, no more nude pics.” “You might want to ask yourself what he was threatening to do,” Mr Wright added. Minutes later, Giggs sent an email with an attachment, with the subject heading ‘blackmail’, the court heard. Giggs also sent Ms Greville an email, the court heard, with the subject line saying “C***!!!” calling her a “wicked, horrible f***”. The former footballer reportedly continued: “I’m so mad right now I’m scared of myself because I could do anything.” Mr Wright said Ms Greville had told her sister she intended to leave Giggs on November 1, 2020 before she returned home, but he arrived and started arguing with her. “She knew that the defendant had once again cheated on her,” added the prosecutor. “Finally, after years of turmoil, when the scales fell from her eyes, she realized she had to get out of his sphere of influence.” Mr Wright said the argument “became heated” and they were hugging on the floor when Emma’s sister entered. The prosecutor claimed that Giggs “deliberately elbowed” Emma Greville in the jaw and then “completely lost his temper” and “deliberately headbutted” Kate Greville. Chris Daw QC, defending Giggs, said his client accepted there was “minor and casual contact” during the alleged incident but it was “not remotely a criminal assault”. Image: Ryan Giggs in action during the 1999 Champions League final. Photo: AP The ex-footballer and Ms Greville were “acting like bickering children” in their relationship and there were “lines that Mr Giggs would never cross”, Dow said. “He never used unlawful force against Kate Greville,” the defense lawyer added. Mr Daw said the allegations against Giggs were based on “distortion, exaggeration and lies”. A list of people to appear in the trial was read out in court, including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Giggs’ former team-mate Gary Neville and the club’s former chief executive David Gill. Giggs’ ex-wife Stacey was also on the list. Giggs stepped down as manager of the Wales national team in June after a period of leave from November 2020. During his career at Old Trafford, Manchester United won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups. He won 64 caps for Wales and co-owns League Two side Salford City. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday morning.