Paul Gascoigne arrested and sectioned under Mental Health Act after hotel rampage

**Honey** · February 21st, 2008, 11:23 AM

Paul Gascoigne, pictured here in 2006, has been arrested and sectioned after his allegedly menacing behaviour at the Malmaison hotel in Gateshead

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne was arrested last night and has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

The former Newcastle United midfielder, widely known as Gazza, was arrested at the Hilton hotel in Gateshead on Wednesday evening.

A police spokesman said: "We attended the Hilton Hotel after receiving a report of concern for a 40-year-old man staying at the hotel. The man was detained under the Mental Health Act and no one was injured during the incident."

It follows an earlier incident at the Malmaison Hotel, where it is believed he terrorised guests and staff at the five-star hotel after a menacing rampage.
Police were called after the former England player grabbed a night porter by the throat while carrying a steak knife.

Gascoigne, who has battled alcohol addiction, was recuperating after a hip operation at the five-star Newcastle hotel.

It is understood that he refused to be evacuated after deliberately setting off fire alarms.

A source at the Malmaison hotel said: "Paul Gascoigne was escorted from the hotel early on Wednesday morning by the police and his sister after assaulting our night porter.

"He had allegedly set the fire alarms off at 3am at a break glass point, and when offered assistance with evacuation [he is classed as a disabled guest following surgery], he became aggressive towards the night porter and grabbed him around the throat.

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Newcastle's Malmaison hotel, believed to be the scene of Gascoigne's rampage

"He [Paul Gascoigne] became very agitated and had a steak knife in his pocket."

The hotel was forced to evacuate all its guests after the fire alarms went off.

Fire engines arrived at the scene but there was no fire and Gascoigne is thought to have been the person who broke the glass sensors.

Manager Lizzy Kelk said he was "potentially a menace to other guests. The guests in the room next to him were moved out as they felt intimidated".

It is understood that the night porter will not be pressing charges against the former football star.

The hotel worker was described by staff as "traumatised" following the incident and has been offered counselling.

The now famous moment Gazza was reduced to tears after England's defeat in the 1990 FIFA World Cup

A spokesman for Northumbria police said: "Police were called to Malmaison at 4.24am after reports that a guest was behaving in a disruptive manner towards other guests."

Gascoigne's belongings were still at the luxury Malmaison hotel yesterday and are due to be returned via his sister.

He had been staying at the hotel for a couple of days after moving from another hotel.

Gazza was widely regarded as one of the most gifted footballers of his generation.

The Newcastle United player earned 57 England caps and scored ten goals for his country during his football career.

His later career was blighted by alcoholism and allegations of domestic abuse against his ex-wife Sheryl Gascoigne.
He won the nation's heart as he wept on the pitch after losing against Germany in the World Cup 1990 semi-final during a penalty shoot-out.

Paul Gascoigne arrested and sectioned under Mental Health Act after hotel rampage | the Daily Mail