THE jury has gone out to consider its verdict in the trial of a former footballer accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a train.
Paul Gascoigne, 52, denies forcefully kissing the alleged victim on the lips on a York to Newcastle train in August 2018.
The former England international midfielder told Teesside Crown Court it was not sexual and that he kissed the stranger to boost her confidence after he heard someone call her fat.
The jury has been told they can consider a lesser, alternative count of assault by beating if they clear him of sexual assault.
Gascoigne stands accused of being loud and swearing drunkenly on the train before sitting next to the woman. He then allegedly tapped her on the arm, grabbed her by the cheeks and planted a sloppy kiss on her lips.
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