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Paul Gascoigne fined for Stevenage railway station assault | Paul Gascoigne fined for Stevenage railway station assault |
(35 minutes later) | |
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been fined £1,000 for assaulting a railway security guard and being drunk and disorderly. | Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been fined £1,000 for assaulting a railway security guard and being drunk and disorderly. |
Appearing before magistrates in Stevenage, he admitted attacking Jack Sherrington at the Hertfordshire town's railway station on 4 July. | Appearing before magistrates in Stevenage, he admitted attacking Jack Sherrington at the Hertfordshire town's railway station on 4 July. |
Assault charges relating to his ex-wife Sheryl Gascoigne, 47, were withdrawn. | Assault charges relating to his ex-wife Sheryl Gascoigne, 47, were withdrawn. |
The attack on Mr Sherrington took place weeks after the ex-Newcastle, Tottenham and Rangers star left rehab in the US. | The attack on Mr Sherrington took place weeks after the ex-Newcastle, Tottenham and Rangers star left rehab in the US. |
The 46-year-old former footballer, who has battled alcoholism for many years, was treated at a clinic in Arizona. | The 46-year-old former footballer, who has battled alcoholism for many years, was treated at a clinic in Arizona. |
He was travelling from Newcastle to London King's Cross after visiting his sick father, but got off the train at Stevenage. | He was travelling from Newcastle to London King's Cross after visiting his sick father, but got off the train at Stevenage. |
Abusive behaviour | Abusive behaviour |
The court heard Mr Sherrington tried to come to Gascoigne's aid after he noticed him staggering towards the railway tracks. | The court heard Mr Sherrington tried to come to Gascoigne's aid after he noticed him staggering towards the railway tracks. |
Staff at the station noticed he was drunk and tried to help Gascoigne by putting him in a wheelchair, but he became abusive towards Mr Sherrington, prosecutor Elaine McMillan said. | Staff at the station noticed he was drunk and tried to help Gascoigne by putting him in a wheelchair, but he became abusive towards Mr Sherrington, prosecutor Elaine McMillan said. |
She said Gascoigne grabbed hold of Mr Sherrington in the neck area in an assault which lasted a few seconds. | She said Gascoigne grabbed hold of Mr Sherrington in the neck area in an assault which lasted a few seconds. |
The security guard did not suffer any injuries. The court ordered the former footballer to pay £100 in compensation to Mr Sherrington. | The security guard did not suffer any injuries. The court ordered the former footballer to pay £100 in compensation to Mr Sherrington. |
Gascoigne's lawyer, Gavin Harris, said he had only consumed a small amount of alcohol due to a "combination of stress caused by worry for his father and acute pain from a hip operation six weeks previously". | Gascoigne's lawyer, Gavin Harris, said he had only consumed a small amount of alcohol due to a "combination of stress caused by worry for his father and acute pain from a hip operation six weeks previously". |
As the ex-footballer had not drunk alcohol for a significant period of time, the effects were stronger than would have otherwise been the case, Mr Harris added. | As the ex-footballer had not drunk alcohol for a significant period of time, the effects were stronger than would have otherwise been the case, Mr Harris added. |
'Publicly apologise' | 'Publicly apologise' |
The court heard Gascoigne's ex-wife Sheryl and his children were called to the station and his 17-year-old son became "distressed". | The court heard Gascoigne's ex-wife Sheryl and his children were called to the station and his 17-year-old son became "distressed". |
Gascoigne was originally charged with two counts of assault, one involving his ex-wife, but that charged was dropped. | Gascoigne was originally charged with two counts of assault, one involving his ex-wife, but that charged was dropped. |
Magistrates also heard he was receiving "one-to-one" treatment for his alcoholism, | |
Mr Harris said the former footballer was "remorseful". | Mr Harris said the former footballer was "remorseful". |
In a statement read outside court, Mr Harris said Gascoigne wanted to "publicly apologise for his actions that evening". | In a statement read outside court, Mr Harris said Gascoigne wanted to "publicly apologise for his actions that evening". |
"He now wishes to be left alone to carry on with his recovery," Mr Harris added. |