Former England footballer Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne fined £1,000 for assault and drunk and disorderly charges

Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been fined £1,000 after he admitted common assault and drunk and disorderly charges linked to an incident at a railway station.

Gascoigne, 46, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates Court today and admitted two charges of common assault and one of being drunk and disorderly over an incident at a railway station.

He was fined £600 for assault and £400 for being drunk and disorderly

He was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to ticket collector Jack Sherrington, who he assaulted, court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60.

The former Newcastle United and Tottenham midfielder, who lives in Gateshead, was arrested after officers were called to Stevenage rail station in Hertfordshire at around 10.30pm on 4 July.

Gascoigne was travelling from Newcastle to London King's Cross but had exited the train at Stevenage station.

Staff at the station noticed he was drunk and tried to help Gascoigne by putting him in a wheelchair, but he became abusive to Mr Sherrington, Elaine McMillan, prosecuting, told the court.

Paul Gascoigne leaves Stevenage Magistrates Court (PA)

The court heard Gascoigne grabbed hold of Mr Sherrington in the neck during an assault which lasted a few seconds.

Mr Sherrington did not suffer any injuries.

The court heard that Gascoigne had been in Newcastle visiting his ill father, who has a heart condition.

Gascoigne's lawyer Gavin Harris said he only consumed a small amount of alcohol due to a "combination of stress caused by worry for his father and acute pain from a hip operation six weeks previously".

Mr Harris said that because Gascoigne had not drunk alcohol for a significant period of time, the effects were stronger than would have otherwise been the case.

Gascoigne, 46, who received treatment for alcoholism in an American clinic earlier this year, was originally charged with two counts of assault, one involving his ex-wife Sheryl, but that charge was dropped.

The court also heard that Gascoigne was receiving “one to one” treatment for his alcoholism, which was continuing.

Mr Harris said: “Mr Gascoigne is remorseful and apologises for his actions.”

With his sunglasses back on, Gascoigne left the court and was driven away in a grey Porsche.

In a statement outside court, Mr Harris said: “Mr Gascoigne has asked me to say a few words on his behalf.

"He wants to publicly apologise for his actions that evening. He now wishes to be left alone to carry on with his recovery.”

A First Capital Connect spokesman said: "Violence towards any staff either in our direct employ or, as in this case, through a third party should not be tolerated and we welcome the court's decision."

Additional reporting by PA