Ryan Giggs will no longer face a retrial on domestic violence charges after prosecutors dropped their case.
The former Manchester United star was set to face a second trial beginning July 31 after the initial hearing last summer ended with a split jury.
But a decision has now been taken for the case not to be pursued after the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew the charges during a pre-trial review at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday morning.
Peter Wright KC, on behalf of the prosecution, informed the court this morning.
Giggs, 49, pleaded not guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour over a three-year period towards his ex-girlfriend, Kate Greville, and also denied assaulting Ms Greville and her sister, Emma, during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on November 1, 2020.
The former footballer was not in attendance at this morning’s hearing but his barrister, Chris Daw KC, said: ‘Mr Giggs is 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 has always been innocent of these charges, there’s been very, very many lies told about him in court. 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.’
Mr Wright KC told the court that Kate Greville had ‘indicated an unwillingness’ to give evidence in a retrial as giving evidence in the first trial had ‘taken its toll’ on her and her sister Emma.
Mr Wright said: ‘This is not a decision taken lightly.’
He said there was no realistic prospect of conviction on count one, that of coercive and controlling behaviour, and it was no longer in the public interest to proceed to prosecute on the other charges of assault on Miss Greville and her sister.
Mr Wright added: ‘That being the case, we formally offer no evidence on counts one, two and three.’
Judge Hilary Manley replied: ‘I formally enter not guilty verdicts in respect of those counts.’
When a retrial was ordered last summer, Giggs said in a statement: ‘After more than three weeks in court I am obviously disappointed that a retrial has been ordered.
‘My not guilty plea remains in relation to all charges. I am confident that justice will eventually be done and my name will be cleared of all the allegations.
‘I would like to thank my legal team, my mum, my children, my girlfriend Zara, as well as my closest friends, for their support throughout this period.
‘I understand the level of interest and the scrutiny around this case but I would like to ask that my and my family’s privacy is respected in the weeks and months ahead.’
Giggs is one of the game’s most decorated players as he won 13 Premier Leagues, two Champions Leagues and four FA Cups at United.
He stepped aside as manager of Wales in the June 2022 having taken a period of leave in November 2020.
Since his playing career ended Giggs has built a large portfolio of businesses, alongside former team-mate Gary Neville.
Their investments include hotels, restaurants and the League Two club Salford City.
