Former
England footballer Paul Gascoigne who was accused of planting a “sloppy”,
drunken kiss on a fellow train passenger has been arraingned in court on
charges of sexual assault.
The
52-year-old ex-Newcastle United, Spurs and Lazio midfielder told police he
kissed the woman to boost her confidence, Teesside Crown Court in northeast
England heard. Prosecutor William Mousley told jurors the case concerned “a
brief but unpleasant assault with sexual overtones on a train by a drunken male
stranger in his 50s”.
After
moving away from her seat in front of Gascoigne due to his drunken behaviour,
and after he tried to sit on her, Gascoigne then “put his hands on her cheeks
and kissed her forcibly and sloppily on the lips,” said Mousley. She called the
police after getting off the York to Newcastle train, and officers called
Gascoigne that night.
Gascoigne,
widely regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation, told
police he knew what the claim was about, saying he had “kissed a fat lass”,
Mousley said. The prosecutor said the woman had found the incident “shocking,
upsetting”.
Gascoigne
broke onto the global stage with his dazzling performances during the 1990
World Cup in Italy, capturing the nation’s heart when he burst into tears after
getting booked in the semi-final defeat against West Germany, which would have
ruled him out of a potential final.
He
has since struggled with alcoholism since retiring from top-flight
football. Gascoigne known as “Gazza”
made his name with home-town club Newcastle before going on to play for
Tottenham, Italian giants Lazio and several other teams including Glasgow
Rangers.
He however denies the single charge of sexual
assault.
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