Paul Gascoigne to pay £2,500 for racist joke

Paul Gascoigne has been told to pay out £2,500 after making a racist joke at the expense of a black security guard.

Appearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court yesterday, the former England footballer pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated public order offence.

Gascoigne, 49, "singled out" Errol Rowe because of the colour of his skin during his show, An Evening With Gazza, in Wolverhampton on 30 November, the court heard.

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Addressing the security guard in front of more than 1,000 people, he asked: "Can you smile so that I can see you?"

In a victim impact statement, Rowe said: "To have your hero as a footballer talk to me in a racial manner has made me so upset and angry. That evening, I went home and sat and cried."

Denying he was a racist, Gascoigne told police he was "devastated" his comment had caused offence.

He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 to Rowe and £500 in costs.

District Judge Graham Wilkinson said the comments had "clearly humiliated the victim".

He added: "It is the creeping low level racism that society must challenge. I accept you grew up in a different time, but we live in the 21st century. Grow up with it or keep your mouth shut, Mr Gascoigne."

During his footballing career, Gateshead-born Gascoigne played for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Everton and Rangers, as well as England. However, he has suffered "recurring bouts of alcoholism", reports ITV News.