British Transport Police have confirmed that the former England midfielder has been charged with sexual assault after an incident on a train
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been charged with sexual assault by touching following an incident on a train from York to Durham in August, British Transport Police have confirmed.
Gascoigne, 51, who earned 57 England caps between 1988 and 1998, was arrested on August 20 and later charged with sexually assaulting a woman onboard a train.
A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “A man is due to appear in court next month charged in connection with the sexual assault of a woman on board a train from York to Durham.
“Paul Gascoigne, of Amy Street, Leicester, was charged via postal requisition with one count of sexual assault by touching, contrary to Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
“The charge relates to an incident on board a train on August 20 this year.
“The 51-year-old will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on 11 December.”
And Gascoigne soon spoke about the incident on Twitter, insisting he did nothing wrong and that he had only been trying to make someone a woman better after she had been called “fat”. However, he soon deleted the tweets.
They read: “Hi, as you know I’ve been charged with a sexual assault from four months ago. The police who charged me asked for selfies and an autograph. Why if I did wrong?
“OK I’m sticking up for myself. My manager Shane said ‘Say nothing – leave it to the lawyers’. I’m my own lawyer. I did f*** all wrong.
“I’m so pleased it’s eventually come out. The truth is I sat on the train with my nephews and I heard someone call a girl in front of me a fat cow so I got upset and sat next to her.
“I said ‘Don’t worry sweetheart, you’re beautiful inside and out’. I pecked her and said ‘It’s OK I was called fat years ago’.”
He added: “My niece and nephew were hospitalised because they were called fat at school and refused to eat. I was called fat. It’s OK. I’m just sad about it as I respect all women
“I’ve a mum, two sisters, two nieces a daughter so why assault? Just so pleased that everyone I know knows it’s not true.”
Gascoigne began his professional career as a teenager at Newcastle, making his debut in 1985. The former midfielder went on to play for Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers while starring for the national team, helping the Three Lions to the semi-finals at the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996.
However, Gascoigne struggled with mental health and addiction issues during and after his career and has since been in and out of treatment centres.
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