Paul Gascoigne: Ex-footballer ‘forcefully kissed “fat lass” on lips to boost her confidence’, court hears

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Paul Gascoigne told police he kissed a woman he did not know on a train to “reassure” her about her appearance, a court has heard.

The former England footballer is on trial accused of sexually assaulting the woman in August last year.

William Mousley QC, prosecuting, said that when tracked down by police on the day of the alleged attack, Mr Gascoigne told officers that “he had, in his words, ‘kissed a fat lass’”.

He claimed the woman had been abused about her size and so “he had given her a peck on the lips to reassure her as he felt sorry for her”, Mr Mousley told Teesside Crown Court.

The alleged victim was on a train from York to Newcastle when she noticed a man in the row behind her who was drunk, swearing and shouting, the jury was told.

He began to pester her, apologised for being drunk, and then tried to sit on her. After she tried to move away he put “his hands on her cheeks and kissed her forcibly and sloppily on the lips”, Mr Mousley told jurors.

“This case concerns a brief but unpleasant assault with sexual overtones on a train by a drunken male stranger in his 50s,” the barrister said.

Fellow passengers challenged Mr Gascoigne, accusing him of “unacceptable sexual behaviour”, the court heard, and he said he was attempting to boost the woman’s confidence.

The alleged victim called police after alighting the train and did not realise until a week later who Mr Gascoigne was.

Officers had tracked him to a hotel in Jesmond, Newcastle. Mr Mousley told jurors that when questioned the next morning Mr Gascoigne failed to show contrition and lied to investigators instead.

The complainant, giving evidence from behind a screen, later told the jury the kiss was “sloppy”, and said: “It was not like a peck on the cheek, it was full on the lips.” Asked if it was done gently, she said: “No, it was a forceful kiss.”

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by Press Association