Hackers steal up to £50k from Paul Gascoigne

TROUBLED former Rangers and England footballer Paul Gascoigne was targeted by hackers who drained his bank account of up to £50,000, according to reports.

Paul Gascoigne at a Tottenham Hotspur game in April. Picture: Getty

Gascoigne, 46, who has been battling alcoholism for years, said the thieves made 23 withdrawals in just two days.

Speaking outside his Bournemouth home, he told The Sun he had been “bled dry”, first claiming he knew who was responsible before admitting he did not understand how it had happened.

He said: “I know who did it. I know how it f****** happened, there were 23 hits in f****** two days. It was quite a lot of money.”

The ex-Tottenham, Newcastle, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder - once believed to be worth £14 million - reportedly said between £9,000 and £50,000 had been stolen.

In a documentary aired by ITV this week he described the pain of knowing he might start drinking again even though he recognises it might kill him.

Widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers of his generation, Gascoigne told filmmakers he had been ‘’lucky twice’’ after almost dying from drink.

He said: ‘’I hope I don’t die through it. Because I won’t get any sympathy... because, well, ‘he was warned’. At least I know if I did pass away through it I wouldn’t be in this pain all the time.”

• Paul Gascoigne: “I hope I don’t die through drink”