J ohnny Depp's security guard today revealed photographs of the Hollywood actor with black eyes as he gave testimony at London’s High Court.

Sean Bett said Depp’s then-wife Amber Heard had left visible injuries on his employer over the course of their tempestuous marriage, subjecting him to physical and verbal abuse.

Depp, 57, is suing The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) for libel, over a 2018 article calling him a 'wife beater'.

He says it was he who suffered domestic violence at the hands of Heard, 34, during their volatile relationship.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 1 /106 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on the first day .Jeremy Selwyn Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on the first day PA Johnny Depp on the first day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN) AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard with her sister Whitney Heard on the first day Johnny Depp's libel case PA Johnny Depp wearing a face covering AFP via Getty Images) Johnny Depp (right) being cross-examined by Sasha Wass QC (left) before the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, at the High Court on 7 July PA Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case Reuters Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day PA AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images Johnny Depp (L) arrives on the third day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July Reuters Photo showing Amber Heard injury alleged to have been caused by Johnny Depp An image Heard said was taken after this incident, showing a bruise on her arm. An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp PA Amber Heard and Bianca Butti leave the Royal Courts of Justice on 9 July Getty Images Amber Heard (R) arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July AP Amber Heard arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp photo spilt ice cream photo referred to in court Amber Heard American actor Johnny Depp gestures to the media as he arrives at the High Court on 13 July AP Amber Heard's pet teacup Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA One of the pictures shown in court Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 14 July PA Johnny Depp with injuries allegedly sustained from Amber Heard during an incident in Los Angeles PA Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London on 20 July Elizabeth Cook/PA Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 20 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Monday where she is due to give evidence against former husband Johnny Depp on 20 July PA Amber Heard image which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court on 20 July PA Johnny Depp arrives at Royal Courts of Justice on 21 July Getty Images Amber Heard with a bruising on her face, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA Amber Heard being cross examined by Eleanor Laws QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London during a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Amber Heard with a friend, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Video deposition of Amber Heard in US proceedings, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court PA Johnny Depp with a cast on his hand PA Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July PA Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 22 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July Reuters Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July REUTERS Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July Getty Images Amber Heard with her girlfriend Bianca Butti arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS PA AFP via Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images AFP via Getty Images SplashNews.com PA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images REUTERS SplashNews.com REUTERS

In a written witness statement released as he appeared in court on Thursday, Mr Bett said: “Throughout the course of Mr Depp and Ms Heard's relationship, Ms Heard was verbally and physically abusive towards Mr. Depp.

'On many occasions, I witnessed her shout at Mr Depp I was also told by Mr Depp on multiple occasions that Ms Heard had physically abused him.'

Mr Bett, a former Los Angeles sheriff's deputy who has worked for Depp for a decade, said he regularly had to escort the Pirates of the Caribbean star away from precarious situations when Heard was in an 'abusive mood.'

'Ms Heard often behaved in this way when she had been drinking,” he told the court.

“I learnt quickly to recognise the signs, so that we were able to leave the situation before it escalated further.'

The court saw a series of images showing Depp with bruises on his face / PA

Depp and Heard met on the set of the 2011 comedy The Rum Diary. The pair married in February 2015 and Heard filed for divorce the following year.

The Sun's defence relies on 14 allegations made by Heard of violence carried out by Depp between 2013 and 2016 – all of which he denies.

Over eight days of testimony, judge Andrew Nicol has heard from Depp — who accused Heard of compiling a dossier of fake claims against him — as well as several current or former employees who have backed his version of events.

Heard is due to give her side of the story when she enters the witness box next week.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in 2015 / AFP via Getty Images

Mr Bett was cross-examined on Thursday by The Sun's lawyer, Sasha Wass, who questioned his claim that he had never seen Heard with bruises of marks on her face or body but had several times seen Depp with bruises inflicted by his wife.

There was a dispute about the date of a photo of the actor's bruised face taken by the security officer, with Ms Wass suggesting he was lying to protect his employer.

'Ma'am you can call me a liar a hundred times. I'm not a liar. I'm telling the truth,' Mr Bett replied.

Depp's former partners Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder had been scheduled to give evidence, but the call was later scrapped.

However, their witness statements were released to the media, in which they denounced as “horrific” and “outrageous” the allegations made against the 57-year-old.

Depp and French singer Paradis had two children during a 14-year relationship that ended in 2012. American actress Ryder dated Depp for several years in the early 1990s.

In a written witness statement, Ryder said she was 'shocked, confused and upset when I heard the accusations' against her ex-boyfriend.

'He was never, never violent towards me,' she said. 'He was never, never abusive at all towards me. He has never been violent or abusive towards anybody I have seen.'

'I do not want to call anyone a liar but from my experience of Johnny, it is impossible to believe that such horrific allegations are true,' she added.

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder / PA/Getty

Paradis said in a witness statement that she had always known Depp to be 'a kind, attentive, generous, and non-violent person and father.'

She said Heard's abuse allegations were 'nothing like the true Johnny I have known, and from my personal experience of many years, I can say he was never violent or abusive to me.'

Mr Depp is suing NGN and The Sun’s executive editor Dan Wootton over the publication of an article on April 27,a 2018 with the headline: “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?”.

His lawyers say the article bore the meaning that there was “overwhelming evidence” that Mr Depp assaulted Ms Heard on a number of occasions and left her “in fear for her life”.

NGN is defending the article as true, and says Mr Depp was “controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Ms Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs”.

On Friday, the court is due to hear evidence from witnesses including Katherine Kendall, an actress and #MeToo advocate who claims she was “misquoted” in The Sun’s article, before Ms Heard is due to begin three days of evidence on Monday morning.