Gascoigne 'Not the full shilling'

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Gascoigne pleads guilty (October 29 2015)

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has pleaded guilty to harassment of his former girlfriend and assaulting a photographer.

The 48-year-old entered guilty pleas at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court to the charges of harassment of Amanda Thomas, assault by beating of the photographer and damaging his glasses worth £200.

The court heard Gascoigne posted a series of abusive Twitter messages about Miss Thomas.

Lee Turner, prosecuting, told the court the relationship between Gascoigne and Miss Thomas had ended at the end of last year and she had begun a new relationship with Andrew Stone, a photographer.

On March 16 2015, Gascoigne telephoned Miss Thomas at a Post Office shop where she works in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Mr Turner said that Miss Thomas told the defendant that she did not want to be contacted again but Gascoigne went on to send her text messages on eight occasions in the following days.

He added that on March 20, Gascoigne sent a "series of abusive tweets" including one post saying: "I am going to f*** him over".

Mr Turner also read out insulting comments made by Gascoigne about Miss Thomas.

Mr Turner said: "As a result of those tweets, it encouraged other persons using Twitter which led to further harassment of Miss Thomas.

"Miss Thomas is at home with Mr Stone when she hears about the use of Twitter, at first she didn't want to look at Twitter but she did.

"She was alarmed and distressed at their content. Mr Stone telephoned Mr Gascoigne asking him to stop, however the abusive tweets continued."

Mr Turner said that the next day Gascoigne called Miss Thomas and told her "I am going to destroy you, I am going to hammer you, I am going to come into the Post Office tomorrow."

He said that Gascoigne turned up at her place of work "causing a scene" and started shouting her name.

He then sent a further tweet saying: "If they do not sack the cow I am going to sue the Post Office."

Gascoigne was later arrested after Miss Thomas made a complaint to the police.

Mr Turner said: "Miss Thomas says that her biggest concern was about losing her job and she did feel harassed by this course of conduct."