Paul Gascoigne 'kissed a fat lass' on the lips to boost her confidence, court hears

Paul Gascoigne is appearing at Teesside Crown Court
Paul Gascoigne is appearing at Teesside Crown Court

Football legend Paul Gascoigne kissed a stranger "forcefully and sloppily" on a train and later told police "I kissed a fat lass," a court has heard.

Gascoigne, 52, was drunk and swearing on the train at Darlington and "cornered" his victim who had moved to get away from him.

He took her face in two hands and forced a kiss on her lips, causing the woman to recoil in shock while other passengers also intervened, jurors heard.

William Mousley, QC, prosecuting, at Teesside Crown Court said: "This case concerns  a brief but unpleasant assault with sexual overtones on a woman on train in August 2018 by a drunken male stranger in his 50s. It happened as she was making her way home from work."

Jurors heard that, after the woman had attempted to move away from the former footballer, he put his hands on her cheeks and kissed her "very forcibly and sloppily on the lips".

When confronted by other passengers, Gascoigne told them he had tried to give her a "confidence boost", the court heard.

Paul Gascoigne is accused of kissing a woman on a train

The unaccompanied woman noticed Gascoigne - who she did not recognise at the time - in the row behind her and saw that he was drunk and swearing, telling other passengers he'd had to pay a guard for his ticket.

Gascoigne, the court heard, tried to engage with the woman and other female passengers.

He moved his suitcase and as he went back to his seat he tried to sit on the woman, causing her to move to a seat closer to the window, the court heard.

Mr Mousley said: "He continued trying to engage with her as she was looking out of the window and tapped her on the arm causing her to look round.

"He put his hands on her cheeks and kissed her forcefully and sloppily on the lips. Upset and shocked she pushed him away and told him to get off."

Gascoigne's alleged victim told jurors how she noticed the former footballer being "very noisy" on the train, saying: "There were lots of cans on the floor."

When asked to describe his demeanour, the woman said he had food on his face, adding: "He certainly seemed drunk, intoxicated."

Paul Gascoigne has denied the charges

Explaining how she put her headphones on and attempted to ignore the noise coming from Gascoigne behind her, she said: "Midway through the journey he asked me if I was a palm reader. I said no and tried to keep looking forward."

The woman described how, later on in the journey, he attempted to sit on her lap, at which point she moved aside.

She told jurors: "He kept saying sorry. I said 'It's fine'. I was just looking out of the window.

"He said sorry a second time, and then tapped my arm.

"I turned around to face him and he grabbed my face and kissed me full on the lips, and I was taken aback because it was just completely out of the blue."

The woman tearfully explained that when she realised what was happening, she pushed Gascoigne off and said: "No, that's not OK."

Asked to describe the kiss, she said it was "sloppy" and "forceful", saying: "It was not a peck on the cheek."

Asked about her reaction, she said: "I just completely froze."

She said that she did not realise that it was Gascoigne until a later date.

Michelle Heeley, QC, defending, put it to the alleged victim that she’d been called a “fat cow” by a male passenger.

She said: “A male voice asked if you wanted a photograph with Mr Gascoigne. Then ‘why would you want a photo with that fat cow’ something to that effect?”

“Do you remember someone being personally abusive to you about your weight?”

She replied: “I have no recollection of that at all.”

Ms Heeley added: “He said “don’t worry you are beautiful” and that’s when he kissed you?”

She replied: “I don’t recall that happening.” Ms Heeley suggested the kiss lasted one or two seconds.

She replied: “It was longer, maybe three, four. I was in shock it came out of nowhere.”

She added: “His lips were around my lips, it was a sloppy kiss over my mouth.”

She said Gascoigne’s apology seemed insincere, adding: “He was saying sorry for the sake of it not because it was actually meant.”

Gascoigne, 52, of Amy Street, Leicester denies one court of sexual assault.

The trial continues.