Gascoigne detained after hotel incident
Feb 22 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal
FORMER Newcastle United legend Paul Gascoigne has been detained under the Mental Health Act after an incident at a Newcastle hotel.
On Tuesday night Gascoigne, 40, is understood to have been drunk and set off the fire alarms at the upmarket Malmaison Hotel on the Quayside, Newcastle, before being thrown out.
It is alleged he threatened a member of staff as he was being removed from the premises, although no one was hurt during the incident.
He was then picked up by his sister, who took him to the Hilton Hotel, Gateshead, where he was detained on Wednesday night.
Tyne and Wear fire officers confirmed they were called to the Malmaison Hotel just after 3am on Wednesday morning to attend a false alarm at the premises.
Northumbria Police last night said a 40-year-old man was detained at the Hilton Hotel under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
Police said that no one was hurt during the incident, and the man was now receiving medical treatment at a hospital.
Section 136 of the Mental Health Act enables a police officer to remove someone from a public place to a place of safety for up to 72 hours, either in the interests of the individual or members of the public.
A worker at the Malmaison claimed that Gascoigne’s behaviour had become increasingly erratic during a 12-night stay there following a hip operation.
The worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, claimed former England star Gascoigne had been answering the door to his room naked, had been ordering raw liver to eat, and had been walking around the hotel with talking plastic parrots under his arms.
“I feel really sorry for him. He needs help. If he’s in hospital that’s the best place for him,” the worker said.
A spokeswoman for Malmaison confirmed that Gascoigne had been staying at the hotel for two weeks. She said he had been “charming” during his stay before Tuesday’s incident.
She said of the trouble: “He was a potential menace to other guests who felt threatened by his behaviour so he was picked up by his sister and then he went to the Hilton. He moved towards the night porter who felt threatened. But he is fine and will not be pressing charges.”
Friends and family close to the ex-England star have been tightlipped about the latest episode in the saga of Paul Gascoigne.
Gazza’s best friend Jimmy “Five Bellies” Gardner, said: “I can’t tell you anything about it because I don’t know anything. I haven’t heard about this.”
And Gascoigne’s sister, Anne-Marie, also said she didn’t know anything about the incident.
A Hilton spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the guest in question checked into the hotel early on Wednesday, February 20. While there was no disturbance caused, we did receive a phone call from the police later that day.
“Since then we can confirm that he was escorted calmly from the hotel and we are continuing to co-operate with the police.”
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Police attended the Hilton Hotel yesterday evening after we received a report of concern for a 40-year-old man staying at the hotel.
“Police were called to Malmaison at 4.24am on Wednesday after reports that a guest was behaving in a disorderly manner towards other guests. The man was spoken to by police and left the hotel.”
Gascoigne, who played for Newcastle United 107 times, scoring 25 goals, as well as Middlesbrough, has had alcohol and health problems for some time.
In January 2005, he was hospitalised with pneumonia and last year he underwent emergency surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer after being taken ill as he was celebrating his 40th birthday.
Page 2: Plastic parrots, raw liver and nudity: How a famous guest outstayed his welcome
