Ryan Giggs has said that an email he sent to his ex-girlfriend with the header ‘Blackmail’ was a “joke”, the court was told today.
The former Manchester United player, 48, is currently in court facing allegations of controlling behaviour and assault towards his ex-partner Kate Greville – all of which he denies.
The footballer was asked on Tuesday 16 August at Manchester Crown Court about an email he had allegedly sent to his ex-girlfriend which contained the word "blackmail" in the subject line.
The email included a video attachment and the subject header of 'Blackmail' and allegedly included the message “I will send this to the group if you don’t” in the email.
The court had been told the video attached was a video of Ms Greville dancing at a Christmas party.
Giggs told the court the email was “just a joke between me and Kate”.
He continued: “Kate was dancing which was something out of nature just acting silly at a Christmas party. It was a work event when she lived in Abu Dhabi.”
When asked whether he intended anything “insidious or meant to be unpleasant or threatening” by the message, Giggs said again: “No it was a joke”.
Giggs went on to explain he had sent pictures to her previously, and Ms Greville had sent images of herself to him and added that they had also shared intimate videos with each other.
The footballer further said that he “never” shared any private videos or photographs of his ex-girlfriend with “anyone ever” and said that he didn't believe Ms Greville would have had any reason to believe he would do so.
The ex-winger has denied assaulting Ms Greville, causing her actual bodily harm, and a separate charge of assault by beating of her 26 year old sister.
Giggs also denies using controlling and coercive behaviour against Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020.
The trial continues.
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