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Paul Gascoigne train kiss trial: Star in 'drunken state' when arrested Paul Gascoigne train kiss trial: Star breaks down in court
(about 2 hours later)
Ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne was in an "intoxicated, drunken state" when he was arrested for kissing a woman on a train, a court has heard. Ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne broke down in tears as he denied sexually assaulting a woman on a train.
The 52-year-old is accused of an "unpleasant" sex assault on the service from York to Newcastle in August 2018. The 52-year-old is accused of "forcefully and sloppily" kissing a woman on a service from York to Newcastle in August 2018.
British Transport Police PC Robert Moody told Teesside Crown Court Mr Gascoigne was drinking beer at a hotel when he arrived to arrest him. He told Teesside Crown Court he had wanted to reassure her after overhearing another passenger describe her as "fat and ugly".
The former player denies a charge of sexual assault by touching. Mr Gascoigne said the kiss was "just a peck" and was not sexual.
On the second day of a trial, PC Moody explained how he arrested Mr Gascoigne at the Jesmond Dene Hotel in Newcastle some hours after the incident on the train. Giving evidence, the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder said he was travelling from Birmingham to Newcastle with his nephews on 20 August last year.
'Help a fat lass' He said while passengers were asking for selfies and autographs he heard a man, who he could not see, say about a female passenger: "What do you want a photo of her for? She's fat and ugly."
He said he had spoken to Mr Gascoigne prior to travelling to the hotel, telling jurors how Gascoigne said: "I know what it's about, I kissed a fat lass." 'Kiss not sexual'
PC Moody said that when he got to the hotel, he saw Mr Gascoigne sat in the foyer in an "intoxicated, drunken state" with a glass of beer in his hand. Mr Gascoigne told the jury he previously had trouble with his weight and "automatically" went to sit next to the woman to reassure her.
He said that, after the defendant had been arrested, he told a custody sergeant: "All I was doing was trying to help a fat lass." He said he told her: "You're not fat and ugly, you're beautiful."
Earlier the court was told the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder "forcefully and sloppily" kissed the woman on the lips while drunk on the train and that she was left "shocked and upset". A court usher handed him a tissue as he became emotional while giving evidence in the dock.
The jury heard that after his arrest, Mr Gascoigne, who now lives in Leicester, told police it was "a peck on the lips" and indicated he did not consider it a serious matter. Earlier, jurors heard how the former player was in an "intoxicated, drunken state" when he was arrested.
The court heard Mr Gascoigne claimed he had kissed her to "boost her confidence" after he said other passengers had been teasing her about her build. British Transport Police PC Robert Moody told the court Mr Gascoigne was drinking beer in a hotel lobby when he arrived to arrest him.
Describing the alleged offence as a "blatant act", the prosecutor added that it was "humiliating" for the woman involved, who cannot be identified, adding: "Perhaps it was him showing off." PC Moody said he had spoken to Mr Gascoigne prior to travelling to the hotel, telling jurors Gascoigne had said: "I know what it's about, I kissed a fat lass."
'Three or four cans'
The court has heard the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder "forcefully and sloppily" kissed the woman on the lips while drunk on the train and that she was left "shocked and upset".
In a police interview Mr Gascoigne said he had undergone an operation which made him sick if he drank spirits and that "thousands" of strangers had come up to him and kissed him over the years.
He told officers in an interview: "I get kissed all the time, so if that was the case, I have been sexually harassed for 20 years."
He said he had only consumed "three or four cans" prior to the incident because spirits made him "spew up" following the operation.
During police interview he told officers: "I can have beer, I won't spew up. Any shorts, I spew up immediately," adding: "Before the operation I could drink gin no problem."
Gascoigne, who now lives in Leicester, told investigators: "I'm not a serious guy, I enjoy life. I've got myself in trouble down the years."
Jurors have also heard there were no CCTV cameras in the carriage.
The trial continues.
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