Thug who assaulted Gazza is jailed
FOOTBALL STAR KNOCKED DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS
A THUG from Uxbridge who fractured the skull of football legend Paul Gascoigne by knocking him down a flight of stairs has been jailed.
Lewis Beard was handed a 23 week jail term for the attack, which happened on December 27 last year at a hotel in Shoreditch High Street.
The former Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton, Rangers and England international said afterwards that he fractured his skull in the fall, and also suffered other serious cuts and bruising.
Beard, 27 and from The Grove, had originally denied the assault, but changed his plea and was jailed at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Friday July 21.
He was also ordered to pay £7,800 in compensation and £650 in court costs, after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Days after the attack, the footballer, known as Gazza, revealed the extent of his injuries when he tweeted: “Hi everyone I got jumped kicked down the stairs I’ve got 15 stitches in my head I’ve a fractured skull 2 broken fingers 8 teeth nicked xxxx”
Met Police, who have not named the man attacked by Beard, confirmed the victim required hospital treatment but was later discharged.
Officers had been called to the reports of a disturbance at a hotel in Shoreditch at around 6.05pm, and were called again a short time later to another report of a man assaulted at the same location.
Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found a 49-year-old man suffering from a head injury.
He was taken to an east London hospital and was later discharged.
Beard was arrested on January 13 on suspicion of actual bodily harm.
He was charged with assault by beating on May 12, and first appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on May 26.
Detective Constable Lee Jackson, from Hackney CID, said: “The victim required hospital treatment after he was knocked down some stairs at the hotel by Beard.
“Despite initially denying the assault, he had no option but to plead guilty.
“The custodial sentence passed on by the courts shows that violent behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Gazza has been plagued by drink and drug problems throughout his adult life.