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| Paul Gascoigne train kiss trial: Ex-footballer 'lied and lied and lied' | Paul Gascoigne train kiss trial: Ex-footballer 'lied and lied and lied' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne "lied and lied and lied" when he told a jury he kissed a woman on a train to comfort her, a court has heard. | |
| The 52-year-old is accused of "forcefully and sloppily" kissing a woman on a 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. |
| He claims he kissed her on the lips to "boost her confidence" after he heard a male passenger call her overweight. | He claims he kissed her on the lips to "boost her confidence" after he heard a male passenger call her overweight. |
| Prosecutor William Mousley QC said the ex-player had "put up a smokescreen". | Prosecutor William Mousley QC said the ex-player had "put up a smokescreen". |
| The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder, has told Teesside Crown Court the kiss was "just a peck" and was not sexual. | The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder, has told Teesside Crown Court the kiss was "just a peck" and was not sexual. |
| But the woman, who cannot be named, said in evidence Mr Gascoigne "forcefully and sloppily" kissed her on the lips while drunk on the train, leaving her "shocked and upset". | But the woman, who cannot be named, said in evidence Mr Gascoigne "forcefully and sloppily" kissed her on the lips while drunk on the train, leaving her "shocked and upset". |
| In his closing speech to the jury, Mr Mousley said of Mr Gascoigne's account: "Right from the start, members of the jury, he lied, and lied, and lied. | In his closing speech to the jury, Mr Mousley said of Mr Gascoigne's account: "Right from the start, members of the jury, he lied, and lied, and lied. |
| "He lied right up to and including the time when he was giving evidence in court yesterday. | "He lied right up to and including the time when he was giving evidence in court yesterday. |
| "There's an obvious reason as to why he lied and that's because he knows he is guilty of sexual assault but wants to put up a smokescreen, cause a diversion, suggest it was not, as it so obviously was." | "There's an obvious reason as to why he lied and that's because he knows he is guilty of sexual assault but wants to put up a smokescreen, cause a diversion, suggest it was not, as it so obviously was." |
| 'Truth and lies' | 'Truth and lies' |
| Mr Mousley said of the kiss: "Either it was an unpleasant assault, or it was an act of kindness. Guilty if the former, not-guilty if it were the latter. | Mr Mousley said of the kiss: "Either it was an unpleasant assault, or it was an act of kindness. Guilty if the former, not-guilty if it were the latter. |
| "This is a case, we submit, about truth and lies. | "This is a case, we submit, about truth and lies. |
| "There is a stark difference between the two and we submit that if you approach this case by deciding which facts you are sure about, that will lead you to a conclusion one way or the other." | "There is a stark difference between the two and we submit that if you approach this case by deciding which facts you are sure about, that will lead you to a conclusion one way or the other." |
| Referring to evidence that Mr Gascoigne may have slurred his words because he didn't have a bridge and had missing teeth, he said: "He lied through his teeth, whichever teeth they were at the particular time." | |
| Earlier, Mr Gascoigne, who lives in Leicester, broke down in the witness box while denying the single charge of sexual assault by touching. | Earlier, Mr Gascoigne, who lives in Leicester, broke down in the witness box while denying the single charge of sexual assault by touching. |
| In her own closing speech, Michelle Heeley QC, defending, said: "Quite frankly, the defence case is that you cannot be sure that Mr Gascoigne had a sexual intention." | In her own closing speech, Michelle Heeley QC, defending, said: "Quite frankly, the defence case is that you cannot be sure that Mr Gascoigne had a sexual intention." |
| She added: "In his own naive way, he thought he was making a larger woman have more body confidence. | She added: "In his own naive way, he thought he was making a larger woman have more body confidence. |
| "It's a clumsy way to go about building someone's confidence, but it was not sexual." | "It's a clumsy way to go about building someone's confidence, but it was not sexual." |
| Judge Peter Armstrong told the jury that if they all agreed the defendant was not guilty of sexual assault, they could consider a lesser offence of assault by beating. | Judge Peter Armstrong told the jury that if they all agreed the defendant was not guilty of sexual assault, they could consider a lesser offence of assault by beating. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
| Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk |