Ryan Giggs ‘used psychological tricks from self-help book “How to Win Friends” to lure me into bed’, says ex-girlfriend

FORMER footballer Ryan Giggs used psychological tricks from a self-help book titled How to Win Friends and Influence People to lure his ex-girlfriend into bed, a court heard today.

Kate Greville claimed the Manchester United star repeatedly used her name to woo her at the beginning of their relationship - a technique she later learned about in the bestseller.

Speaking on day three of Giggs' assault and coercive behaviour trial, she claimed she had not been happy in her marriage to businessman Damian Burke when she noticed the sportsman was interested in her.

She said Giggs used her name a great deal when they first started speaking, which she later discovered is a method favoured by author Dale Carnegie to get people onside.

Chris Daw QC, representing Giggs, suggested she was implying there was some sort of "clever psychological game" in play.

He said: "The impression you give is you only really had an affair with Ryan because you were unhappy and he basically reeled you in?"

Kate replied: "I'm not saying it was all one-sided.

"I was fully involved in that. There was things about him that definitely were luring me into a relationship."

Mr Daw said: "The truth is it's a complete fiction Ryan was using psychological techniques on your vulnerabilities. It's just rubbish?"

Kate said: "Absolutely not. I felt like he was using techniques.

"I was vulnerable, that's a fact."

Manchester Crown Court also heard how Kate felt like a "slave to his every need and demand".

She alleged the former Wales boss made her feel like she had to do what he said "otherwise there were consequences".

Giggs, 48, denies using controlling and coercive behaviour against Kate between August 2017 and November 2020.

He also denies assaulting her, causing actual bodily harm and the common assault of her younger sister.

Yesterday, Kate told a jury that Giggs grabbed her by the shoulders and headbutted her in November 2020 after she earlier confronted him about his serial cheating.

She said in the lead-up to the alleged assault she had learned he had "full-on relationships" with eight women while they were together.

The discovery of messages "going back years" on the footballer's iPad prompted her to decide to leave him, she said.

Kate broke down in tears as she told how her ex "came at me from nowhere and headbutted me in the face".

Describing the ordeal in front of him, she said: "I was in shock. I fell backwards, my lip instantly swelled.

"I put my hands over my mouth and I could taste the blood."

Giggs denies causing Kate actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between August 31, 2017, and November 2, 2020, and attacking her sister on November 1, 2020.

The trial continues.