Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne kissed a woman “forcibly and sloppily” on the lips while on a train, a court has heard.
The 52-year-old was drunk heavily before grabbing hold of the passenger’s face and kissing her in a “brief but unpleasant” sexual assault, the jury at Teesside crown court was told.
The woman told that she was shocked by what had transpired. “I get the train I don’t know how many times a year and I’ve never felt so upset and scared by what was taking place.”
The victim went on to give evidence by stating that the former footballer repeatedly tried to engage her and other passengers in conversation before attempting the sexual assault.
“Midway through the journey, he asked me if I was a palm reader – I don’t know what impression I gave – I said no and tried to keep looking forward,” she said.
The woman could not recognize Gascoigne at the time but seemed certain that he was drunk and intoxicated. Gascoigne however denies a single count of sexual assault by touching.
The alleged victim on a tearful note said that, “I tried to keep my lips firmly shut. I just completely froze.” She said: “[The kiss] was just sloppy and it wasn’t like a peck on the cheek you might give someone – it was very full on the lips.” I was on my own and, because the behaviour just came out of nowhere ,it just shocked me and I was rather upset. I just wanted to get home.”
However, the former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur player on the following morning claimed he had given the woman “a peck on the lips“ because she was being verbally abused about her weight.
Alisan Burden, a fellow passanger on the train said that Gascoigne was seen drinking from what looked like a milk carton, moments before the incident had transpired. The trail is now set to continue.
