Ryan Giggs sent ex-girlfriend Kate Greville text messages that included the words "evil" and "c***", a court has heard.
The first day of Giggs' trial started on Monday. The 48-year-old has been accused of controlling and coercive behaviour against Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020.
Giggs has been charged with causing Greville actual bodily harm at his home in November 2020 and common assault against her younger sister, Emma, in the same alleged incident.
He denies all the charges.
Prosecutor Peter Wright QC read out some of Giggs' alleged text messages to Kate Greville at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. "Please unblock me, all this blocking malarkey is poo," read one alleged message. "Promise, no more naked piccies [pictures]."
Another alleged text read: "Only an evil, horrible c*** does that - astonishing. Now I look an utter t*** after telling three of my mates I'm going to Scotland. I simply cannot believe you f****** did that. I’m scaring myself because I feel I could do anything right now."
While another alleged message read: "I actually hate you the way you’ve done to me today. HATE HATE HATE."
Mr Wright told Judge Hilary Manley and a jury of seven women and five men that Giggs was "idolised by fans" but "there was, we say, a much uglier and more sinister side to his character - a private life that involved a litany of abuse".
Mr Wright added: "The systematic and at times violent abuse of a woman is what this case is all about, while all the time preying on her vulnerabilities for his own gratification."
The prosecutor said that "abusive acts of violence" were "interspersed with acts of kindness or contrition calculated to rekindle her affection or to forgive his excesses" and that meant "the relationship endured and the cycle continued".
In relation to the alleged assault in November 2020, Mr Wright told the jury that Giggs "entirely lost self-control and deliberately headbutted Kate, causing swelling to her lips that would bruise and lead to some bleeding".
Emma Greville then called the police but, the prosecutor added, Giggs allegedly elbowed Emma Greville in the face.
Mr Wright described Giggs as "manipulative" and the relationship as "toxic" and said that he would "harass" Kate Greville when she was out with friends. He would send messages and "threaten to send images... of a personal nature to her friends and work colleagues".
Chris Daw QC, who is representing Giggs, claimed the defendants' "moral behaviour [was] far from perfect" and he did not handle arguments in "the best possible way" but allegations of violence are "simply false" and he "never once used unlawful violence against Ms Greville".
Mr Daw said Giggs accepts there was "minor and accidental contact" during the alleged assault incident in November 2020 but it was "not remotely a criminal assault." He added that the assault claim was "based on distortion, exaggeration and lies".
Mr Daw told the jury that Giggs' former colleagues Sir Alex Ferguson and Gary Neville will appear “in some way” during a trial that is expected to last two weeks but could drag into a third.
