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Paul Gascoigne cleared of sex assault on train Paul Gascoigne cleared of sex assault on train
(32 minutes later)
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on a train. Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been cleared of sexually assaulting a woman on a train.
The 52-year-old had been accused of "forcefully and sloppily" kissing the fellow passenger on a service from York to Newcastle in August 2018.The 52-year-old had been accused of "forcefully and sloppily" kissing the fellow passenger on a service from York to Newcastle in August 2018.
The jury is still considering a lesser charge of assault by beating. Mr Gascoigne wept in the dock and thanked the jury to cheers of "yes" from the public gallery as the verdict was announced.
Mr Gascoigne wept in the dock and there were cheers of "yes" from the public gallery as the jury delivered its verdict. He was also cleared of the lesser charge of assault by beating.
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He had told Teesside Crown Court he gave the woman a "peck on the lips" to "boost her confidence" after he heard a male passenger call her overweight. Clearing Mr Gascoigne, Judge Peter Armstrong said: "You are now discharged and free to go." He was told he could apply to have his defence costs paid.
The court heard Mr Gascoigne had been "naive" in kissing the woman, but that it had not been a sexual act. Leaving Teesside Crown Court, the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder thanked the judge and his dentist - an apparent reference to evidence earlier in the trial about him not having his false teeth in when he was on the train.
Judge Peter Armstrong told the jury he was willing to accept a majority verdict on the charge of assault by beating. 'Peck on the lips'
He said that "assault by beating" is committed if the defendant "intentionally applies unlawful force to another who does not consent to it" In a statement, his solicitor said Mr Gascoigne was "glad it's over so he can get on with his life".
'Lied and lied and lied' He added: "The charge hanging over him was tough."
As he left court, the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder wiped his eye with a tissue and hugged his agent. The former player had told the court he gave the woman a "peck on the lips" to "boost her confidence" after he heard a male passenger call her overweight.
Prosecutor William Mousley had told the court that Mr Gascoigne had "lied, and lied, and lied" during the trial, which heard he had been drunk on board the train. The trials and tears of Paul Gascoigne
However, prosecutor William Mousley had told the jury that Mr Gascoigne had "lied, and lied, and lied" during the trial, which heard he had been drunk on board the train.
But Michelle Heeley QC, defending, said the former player had no sexual intention.But Michelle Heeley QC, defending, said the former player had no sexual intention.
She said "In his own naive way, he thought he was making a larger woman have more body confidence. She said: "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."
Jurors were handed a file of photos showing Mr Gascoigne kissing and being kissed by famous footballers and fans.Jurors were handed a file of photos showing Mr Gascoigne kissing and being kissed by famous footballers and fans.
A photo of him kissing Diana, Princess of Wales, was also shown to the jury.A photo of him kissing Diana, Princess of Wales, was also shown to the jury.
Ms Heeley read out character references from former professional boxer Ricky Hatton and Mr Gascoigne's former agent Mel Stein.Ms Heeley read out character references from former professional boxer Ricky Hatton and Mr Gascoigne's former agent Mel Stein.
Mr Gascoigne broke down as he told the court about what happened on the journey from Birmingham to Newcastle, on 20 August last year.Mr Gascoigne broke down as he told the court about what happened on the journey from Birmingham to Newcastle, on 20 August last year.
'Drunken state''Drunken state'
The former footballer, who had been travelling with his nephews, said while passengers were asking for selfies and autographs he heard a man say about a passenger: "What do you want a photo of her for? She's fat and ugly."The former footballer, who had been travelling with his nephews, said while passengers were asking for selfies and autographs he heard a man say about a passenger: "What do you want a photo of her for? She's fat and ugly."
Mr Gascoigne told the jury he had previously had trouble with his weight and "automatically" went to sit next to the woman to reassure her.Mr Gascoigne told the jury he had previously had trouble with his weight and "automatically" went to sit next to the woman to reassure her.
He said he told her: "You're not fat and ugly, you're beautiful."He said he told her: "You're not fat and ugly, you're beautiful."
Mr Gascoigne was in a "drunken state" when he was arrested, the court was told.Mr Gascoigne was in a "drunken state" when he was arrested, the court was told.
British Transport Police PC Robert Moody said Mr Gascoigne had been drinking beer in a hotel lobby when he arrived to arrest him.British Transport Police PC Robert Moody said Mr Gascoigne had been drinking beer in a hotel lobby when he arrived to arrest him.
PC Moody said he had spoken to him before travelling to the hotel, telling jurors Mr Gascoigne had said: "I know what it's about, I kissed a fat lass."PC Moody said he had spoken to him before travelling to the hotel, telling jurors Mr Gascoigne had said: "I know what it's about, I kissed a fat lass."