By Sammie Jones-
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been cleared of giving a woman a peck in the lips to boost her confidence.
The 52-year-old had been accused of “forcefully and sloppily” kissing the fellow passenger on a service from York to Newcastle in August 2018.Mr Gascoigne told the court he gave the woman a “peck on the lips” to “boost her confidence” after he heard a male passenger call her overweight.The 52-year-old kissed the stranger “very forcibly and sloppily on the lips”, causing her to recoil in horror and leaving her “very shaken”.
The prosecution failed in their bid to tell the jury about Gascoigne’s previous convictions, which included offences of battery, criminal damage and racially aggravated harassment.
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A spokesperson said: “We reviewed the case in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it was determined that there was a realistic prospect of conviction and it was in the public interest to prosecute Mr Gascoigne for the offence of sexual assault.” Mr Gascoigne had told the court he gave the woman a “peck on the lips” to “boost her confidence” after he heard a male passenger call her overweight.
Mr Gascoigne wept in the dock and thanked the jury to cheers of “yes” from the public gallery as the verdict was announced. His solicitor Imogen Cox read a statement on his behalf, saying: “To have a sexual allegation for over 12 months has been tough.
“I am so glad I was finally able to put over my side of the story and that the jury came to the correct verdict.
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“I’m now looking forward to getting on with my life.” Gascoigne himself then said: “I am off to the dentist.”
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