Gazza Gets Apology For False Grope Story

16 January 2012, 11:38 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Former Newcastle United and England footballer Paul Gascoigne has received a public apology over a newspaper claim that he groped a female shop assistant.

Gazza wasn't at London's High Court for the settlement of his libel action against News Group Newspapers this morning.

It was over a story in The Sun in July 2010.

His lawyer, Richard Pitkethly, told Mr Justice Tugendhat, that the story, with the headline 'It's Paw Gascoigne', stated that the assistant said Gascoigne had put his hand on her breast.

He said the newspaper acted in good faith in publishing the article, having obtained an on record interview with the assistant, setting out her version of events.

But she withdrew this version in an article published elsewhere.

He said:
"The allegation was published in good faith but it was nevertheless false.

Mr Gascoigne did not grope the shop assistant as alleged in the article, or at all, and the defendant now accepts this.''

Mr Pitkethly said that Gascoigne and NGN had now resolved matters between themselves and the article had been removed from the newspaper's website.

NGN's solicitor, Ben Beabey, apologised for any distress and embarrassment caused.