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		</div><p>Former football star Paul Gascoigne has described his sex assault accusation and trial as a “year of hell”.</p>
<p>The 52-year-old was cleared of sexual assault, and of the lesser, alternative count of assault by beating on Thursday, after a four-day trial at a UK court.</p>
<p>He was accused of forcefully and sloppily kissing a stranger while he was drunk on a train in August 2018.</p>
<p>Gascoigne told the Sunday Mirror: <em>“All I was doing was sticking up for the girl.</em></p>
<p><em>“I gave the girl a peck. I didn’t mean anything sexual, I just heard what was said to her and wanted to help. If it was anyone else this would never have gone to court.</em></p>
<p><em>“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. It’s been a year of hell.”</em></p>
<p>Gascoigne also told the paper he worked hard to stay sober throughout the process, adding: <em>“In the last six months I’ve not touched a drop.”</em></p>
<p>When he was cleared, the former England player said he was “looking forward to getting on with my life”.</p>
<p>Outside court, he smiled and stood beside his solicitor Imogen Cox as she read a statement on his behalf, saying: <em>“To have a sexual allegation for over 12 months has been tough.</em></p>
<p><em>“I am so glad I was finally able to put over my side of the story and that the jury came to the correct verdict.”</em></p>
<p>Michelle Heeley QC, defending, had argued that when Gascoigne kissed the stranger, there was no sexual intent.</p>
<p>She said the former player kissed a woman who was not expecting it and did not like it, but that did not make him a sex offender.</p>
<p>She said the kiss lasted two or three seconds, on a packed train, and was not preceded by any “lecherous comment”, touching or groping.</p>
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