‘Britain’s biggest player’ is jailed for four years for battering Gerard Pique’s ex-girlfriend

A man once branded ‘Britain’s biggest player,’ who bragged about bedding 2,500 women in a decade has been jailed for four years after repeatedly biting and attacking Gerard Pique’s ex-girlfriend in a string of jealous assaults.

Daniel Wagster, 31, left his victim feeling ‘scared, depressed and anxious,’ after a series of brutal attacks.

A court heard Wagster, from Hale in Greater Manchester, beat and bit the woman in a series of violent arguments.  

One row started during a New Year trip to Amsterdam, when he lashed out over the victim’s previous fling with former Barcelona and Manchester United defender Gerard Pique. 

In a chilling incident, the victim was woken up by Wagster to see him standing over her and moving his finger across his neck saying: ‘I would love to slit your throat, if I did I would only get 15 years.’

And in a menacing phone call personal trainer Wagster told her: ‘I don’t care if you call police. If they catch up with me they will catch up with you. Right you watch, watch.’

Daniel Wagster, from Hale, Greater Manchester, has been jailed for four years after repeatedly biting a woman’s face and fracturing her finger in two places 

Daniel Wagster was once branded 'Britain's biggest player,' after he claimed to have slept with thousands of women

Daniel Wagster was once branded ‘Britain’s biggest player,’ after he claimed to have slept with thousands of women

In a statement the woman, who asked not to be named told police: ‘It has been traumatic for me to have to relive all these incidents and I am emotionally exhausted and scared of this man. 

‘I had to lie to my family and friends about the injuries and no one knows what happened in Amsterdam. I am embarrassed and feel stupid for staying with him.

‘On two occasions I tried to take my own life because of how he makes me feel. I felt physically and mentally could not do it anymore.

‘At the time of the assaults I was scared, depressed and anxious. I had financial problems having to provide for him and everything I tried to do was to make him feel happy and safe.’

She added: ‘He may feel remorse but no doubt he will do it again to someone else.’

At Manchester Crown Court, Wagster, of Hale, near Altrincham who has string convictions for violence against other ex-girlfriends, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Wagster was described as a 'practised and habitual domestic abuser' by Judge Hilary Manley

Wagster was described as a ‘practised and habitual domestic abuser’ by Judge Hilary Manley 

The court heard the pair had been in a relationship since February last year after being friends for five years. 

Last August he moved in with her but falsely claimed she was cheating on him.

The first assault occurred on his birthday when Wagster grabbed her by the hair, bit her nose, then pinned her against a wall at home. 

She stood by him but after a night out a club they rowed again back home and he pinned her down on a sofa and bit her on the face three times.

The woman threw Wagster out but refused to make a complaint to police due to his claims he had schizophrenia. However they later arranged to meet up again after he apologised and promised to change.

Mark Kellet prosecuting said: ‘They left for Amsterdam on 30 December and that day was fine. On New Year’s Eve they had both been drinking and were in a club where a Shakira song had been playing.

‘She made a comment but he became angry because she had been in a relationship with a man who had gone on to marry Shakira. This was a known joke between the victim and her friends.

‘The defendant said it was disrespectful and grabbed her by the neck and bit her in the face near her right eye.’ 

When interviewed by police, Wagster denied assault and said problems with harassment came from the victim.

When interviewed by police, Wagster denied assault and said problems with harassment came from the victim.

While in their hotel room Wagster pinned his arms down on his victim’s left middle finger, fracturing it in two places.

After threatening to slit her throat and throwing her against a coffee table, the victim told Wagster to leave, telling him she would call the police. 

When interviewed by police he denied assault and said problems with harassment came from the victim. 

But sentencing Judge Hilary Manley told Wagster: ‘You took a young, vibrant and hardworking woman and turned her into a fearful, traumatised and damaged victim. 

Wagster's victim told police she had attempted to take her own life as she lived in fear of her attacker

Wagster’s victim told police she had attempted to take her own life as she lived in fear of her attacker

‘Your demeanour when her victim impact statement was read out in the court suggests you feel no remorse at all.

‘You are a practised and habitual domestic abuser. You have criminal convictions for assaults, threatening behaviour, home invasion, harassment and criminal damage- all committed against women you had been in a relationship with.

‘Your schizophrenia is no excuse. You have not committed violence against other people, just the women in your life. 

‘Your relationships with women are typified by physical and emotional abuse.’ 

Wagster will be on licence until 2025 following his release from jail under the terms of an extended sentence. He was also banned from contacting the victim indefinitely under the terms of a restraining order.

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