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Former England football star Paul Gascoigne was ordered to pay out more than £1,000 today after he admitted drunkenly grabbing a ticket collector by the neck.
The ex-Newcastle United and Spurs midfielder, who has battled alcoholism for many years, attacked Jack Sherrington at Stevenage railway station last month, a court heard.
He had been travelling from Newcastle to Kings Cross when train staff noticed he appeared to have been drinking.
He left the train at Stevenage where Mr Sherrington tried to help him into a wheelchair as he was having difficulty standing and staggering towards the track.
But prosecutor Elaine McMillan told Stevenage magistrates: “He was abusive towards Mr Sherrington using the c word repeatedly. He ended up grabbing hold of Mr Sherrington to the neck. He said his shirt was held tightly towards his throat. That lasted a few seconds.”
Another member of staff had contacted his former wife Sheryl and his two children aged 26 and 17. The court heard the youngest was left “extremely upset” by the incident.
Gascoigne was arrested at about 10.30pm and spent a night in police cells before being released on bail.
Today at court, wearing a navy suit, pale blue shirt, beige suede shoes and sunglasses, Gascoigne, 46, who lives in Gateshead, spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address before pleading guilty to one charge of common assault and drunk and disorderly behaviour on July 4.
A charge that he attacked his ex-wife Sheryl was dropped by the Crown at the start of proceedings.
Defending, Gavin Harris said his client had been visiting his ill father who was suffering with a heart condition, the stress of which had prompted him to drink, which affected him more than normal as he had not drunk “in a long time”.
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He also said he had been in pain due to a hip operation six weeks earlier and added Gascoigne had apologised repeatedly for his actions after the attack.
A letter from the Providence Project was shown to the court describing his “superb progress” with its alcohol treatment programme and its commitment to continue supporting him.
Chair of the bench Carolyn Marsh ordered the former footballer to pay a £1,000 fine, plus a victim surcharge, costs and £100 compensation to Mr Sherrington, bringing the total to £1,245.
Gascoigne earned 57 international caps but his career - and life post football - were blighted by his ongoing problems with alcohol.
He received treatment for alcoholism in an American clinic earlier this year and in March, he said he wanted to “get back to reality” after the latest health scare in his continuing battle.
He told ITV1’s Daybreak: “I didn’t ask to be an alcoholic, but I must admit I worked on it. I went to any lengths to get my drink, I’ll go even further to stay sober.”
He has also reportedly agreed to have a chemical capsule implanted in his brain to prevent him from drinking himself to death.