Paul Gascoigne speaks of relief after being cleared of sexually assaulting woman he kissed on train

Stephanie Cockroft17 October 2019
WEST END FINAL

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Paul Gascoigne has said he is looking forward to "getting on with my life" after being found not guilty of sexual assaulting a fellow train passenger.

The 52-year-old ex-England midfielder, known as Gazza, was found to have had no sexual intention when he kissed the stranger on a train between York and Newcastle.

Speaking outside court after he was cleared of sexual assault and a lesser charge of assault by beating, he said: "I'm so glad I was finally able to put across my side of the story and the jury came to the right verdict

"I am now looking forward to getting on with my life."

Gascoigne wept in the dock as he was cleared. As he left court, Gascoigne wiped his eye with a tissue and hugged his agent.

The former footballer was cleared of sexual assaut and an alternative charge of assault by beating
PA

Teesside Crown Court heard the complainant was on a train in August 2018 when Gascoigne, who was loud and swearing, drunkenly sat down next to her, tapped her on the arm, grabbed her by the cheeks and planted a sloppy kiss on her lips.

After she was kissed, the woman, who cannot be named, was shocked and a fellow passenger challenged Gascoigne, saying: "What you have just done is sexual abuse."

Police later traced Gascoigne to a hotel in Jesmond, Newcastle. When an officer spoke to him on the phone, prior to arrest, the footballer said: "I know what it's about, I kissed a fat lass."

When he gave evidence, Gascoigne said he was trying to reassure his alleged victim after he claimed to have overheard someone say of her: "You don't want a photo with her, she's fat and ugly."

He spoke of his own battle with his weight, struggles with bulimia and bullying suffered by family members.

He denied being drunk at the time, telling the jury he had undergone an operation in Australia to have pellets implanted in his stomach which would make him "spew up" if he drank spirits.

In her closing speech to the jury, Michelle Heeley QC, defending, told jurors the former footballer kissed a woman who was not expecting it and did not like it, but that did not make him a sex offender.

Referring to his illustrious international career, she said a kiss could mean many things, including a celebration "when you score one of the greatest goals England has ever seen, against Scotland in Euro '96".

During the trial, the defence had showed the jury pictures of Gascoigne kissing and being kissed by other people, including former footballers Steve Bull, Ian Wright, Ally McCoist and Wayne Rooney, as well Diana, Princess of Wales.

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