Gazza denies sex assault allegation

BY TOM WILKINSON RANGERS legend Paul Gascoigne has appeared in court to deny sexually assaulting a woman by kissing her on a train.

The 51-year-old was arrested in Aigist while travelling from York to Newcastle and last month British Transport Police said he had been charged with sexual assault by touching.

The alleged incident was said to have happened at Darlington.

District Judge Kristina Harrison, sitting at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court near Sunderland, asked if alternatives to the charge had been considered.

She said: “The prosecution have considered the charge and have subjected it to review and at the present time the prosecution are satisfied sexual assault is the appropriate charge?”

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, replied: “Yes.”

Former England star Gascoigne, who played for Newcastle, Spurs, Lazio, Middlesbrough and Everton, as well as Rangers, entered a “not guilty” plea.

The alleged offence can be dealt with by either magistrates or a judge and jury and Gascoigne elected for a Crown Court hearing.

He had previously protested his innocence on Twitter, saying he had stepped in to comfort a woman after she had been called a “fat cow”.

After a seven-minute hearing yesterday, Gascoigne, living in Leicester, was granted unconditional bail to appear at Teesside Crown Court next month.

He arrived in a black Mercedes minivan with at least three security staff and was surrounded by photographers as he walked in to court.

As he left the building, a woman in the waiting area asked Gascoigne, who was wearing sunglasses, a blue suit, a pale blue shirt and brown and cream shoes, for a selfie.