Paul Gascoigne is tackled by Waitrose security guard after ‘taking £9 bottle of red wine without paying’

FOOTBALL legend Paul Gascoigne was confronted by Waitrose security guard after allegedly taking a £9 bottle of red wine without paying.

The 52-year-old was followed by a security guard and manager as he left with Little Waitrose store at London’s King’s Cross Station with the bottle of plonk, it has been claimed.

The Sunday Mirror reported the ex-England ace was holding the £9 bottle as he left the shop just after midday.

A witness told the publication they had spotted Gazza in the shop with another man who picked out the drink.

But he claimed: “But while he was queuing, Gazza took the bottle of wine out of his hand and walked out of the shop without paying.

“It’s only a very small store so the security guard had seen everything.

“He followed him straight out and said to him, ‘You can’t do that’.”

Gazza reportedly then apologised to the security, heading back into the store and paying.

The footie hero has previously battled alcoholism for years, gaining a reputation as a playboy and party animal during his playing days in the 1980s and 90s.

It came two months after the ex-footballer was acquitted of sexual assault after kissing a woman on a train.

He claimed he was trying to give the woman a “confidence boost” after she was branded a “fat lass” on the service from York to Durham on August 20 last year.

A jury took two hours and 45 minutes to clear Gazza of sexual assault at Teesside Crown Court.

He was previously arrested for drink-driving and admitted to being four times over the legal limit in October 2010.

He was also fined £1,00 in 2013 after he admitted to drunkenly assaulting a railway security guard.

A Waitrose & Partners spokesman said: “We respect the privacy of our customers and we have no information to provide.”