Former England footballer Gascoigne pleads not guilty to sexual assault

The 51-year-old, a former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Lazio player, widely known as Gazza, was arrested at Durham train station in northern England in August and later released while police investigated the incident.

(Reuters)

He appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where he entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of one count of sexual assault by touching.

Gascoigne elected for a crown court hearing.

Gascoigne, who has spent several spells in rehab battling alcohol and drug addiction, played 57 times for England between 1988 and 1998.

(Reporting by Christian Radnedge; Editing by Martyn Herman)