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October 29, 2019 | Empowerment

The jury at the trial of former football??star Paul Gascoigne, whos accused of sexually assaulting a woman will keep their deliberations on Thursday. Even the 52-year-old ex-England midfielder simplifies the offence, stating that he kissed the stranger once he heard somebody call her weight to improve her confidence, and it wasnt sexual. Were told they can consider a choice count of assault when they clean him of sexual assault by beating. Teesside Crown Court has heard the complainant was on a York to Newcastle train in August 2018 when Gascoigne, who was loud and swearing, drunkenly sat down next to her, tapped her on the arm, grabbed her by the cheeks and also planted a sloppy kiss on her lips. In her closing address to the jury Michelle Heeley QC, defending, told jurors that didnt make him a sex offender, although the former footballer kissed a girl who was not expecting it and didnt like it. Speaking about the alternative charge, she said:You might think, 14 months following this episode, this is really a sexual attack , or nothing. Referring to his illustrious global career, she said a kiss could mean several things, such as a celebrationwhen you score one of the best goals England has ever seen, against Scotland in Euro96. She stated the kiss lasted two or three moments, on a packed train, and wasnt preceded with anylecherous comment, touching or groping. Miss Heeley explained:You cannot be sure Mr Gascoigne had a sexual intent. He has been persistent throughout, he did not kiss (the complainant) for any other reason in his mind than to assure her that she was not fat or ugly. She stated it could have beenmisplaced, however it wasnt sexual. In his final speech, prosecutor William Mousley QC said Gascoigne had lied about what occurred, and that someone had mistreated the girl. He explained:Theres an obvious reason as to why he cried and thats because he knows he is guilty of sexual assault but wishes to put up a smokescreen, lead to a diversion, indicate it was not as it obviously was. Mr Mousley stated of this kiss:It was an unpleasant assault, or it had been an act of kindness. Guilty when the former, maybe not guilty if it were the latter. After she was kissed, the woman, who cannot be named, was shocked and also a fellow passenger contested Gascoigne, stating:What youve just completed is sexual abuse. Police later traced Gascoigne to a hotel in Jesmond, Newcastle, also as soon as an officer spoke to him about the phone, before detain, the footballer explained:I understand what its about, I kissed a fat lass. When he gave evidence, Gascoigne explained he was attempting to guarantee his alleged victim later he claimed to have overheard somebody say of herYou do not want a photograph with her, she is fat and ugly. He spoke of his struggle with his burden, bullying suffered by relatives and struggles with bulimia. Gascoigne stated he arrived and sat next to the girl, telling hertake no notice of what they state andlisten, so you are not fat and nasty. He denied being drunk at the moment, telling the jury that he had undergone an operation in Australia to get pellets implanted into his belly which would leave himspew up when he drank spirits. The defence showed Gascoignes jury photos kissing and being kissed by additional folks, such as Diana, Princess of Wales, also as former footballers Ian Wright, Steve Bull, Ally McCoist and Wayne Rooney. The court heard character references from Jane Couch and fighters Ricky Hatton, his alcohol adviser and his agent Mel Stein, which spoke of Gascoigne kissing people. The trial continues. Read more: https://montanayouthrugby.org/euro-2020-betting-tips/

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