Paul Gascoigne pleads GUILTY over racist 'joke' he made at show
PAUL Gascoigne, the former England footballer, has pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence over a 'joke' he made during a show.
The 49-year-old, whose career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, admitted using "threatening or abusive words or behaviour" after he told a racist joke during his show An Evening With Gazza show in Wolverhampton.
Gascoigne, who lives in Dorset, admitted committing the offence on November 30 last year, ahead of a trial at Dudley Magistrates' Court which was due to start today.
At least four witnesses were expected to give evidence at the trial, which was due to be heard before a district judge.
Paul Gascoigne arrives at court for racism trial
Gascoigne, who retired from football in 2005, also played for Everton, Middlesbrough and Italian club Lazio, and made 57 appearances for England between 1988 and 1998.
Since his retirement Gascoigne has struggled with alcohol and has been in rehab several times.
He has not worked in football since being fired as the manager of Kettering Town in 2005.
On October 23, 2014, police were called to his home in Poole after he was in a drink binge; he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act the next day and taken to a hospital for a three-day detox.
Judge Wilkinson said the ex-player had admitted "the sort of insidious racism" that needed to be challenged.
The judge fined Gascoigne £1,000 and ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation.