Apology for Gascoigne over groping accusation

Former Rangers star Paul Gascoigne has received an apology over a newspaper claim that he groped a female shop assistant.

The former England player was not at London’s High Court yesterday for the settlement of his libel action against News Group Newspapers over a July 2010 story in the Sun.

His counsel, Richard Pitkethly, told the court the story, headlined “It’s Paw Gascoigne”, stated that the assistant said Gascoigne had put his hand on her breast. She subsequently withdrew her version of events. Mr Pitkethly added: “The allegation was published in good faith but was nevertheless false.”

He said the newspaper acted in good faith in publishing the article, having obtained an on-the-record interview with the assistant, setting out her version of events.

She subsequently withdrew this version in an article published elsewhere.