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Mirror hacking left Paul Gascoigne 'scared' to use phone Mirror hacking left Paul Gascoigne 'scared' to use phone
(about 1 hour later)
Former footballer Paul Gascoigne has told the High Court he was "scared to speak to anybody" by phone during the 10 years his voicemail was hacked by Mirror Group journalists.Former footballer Paul Gascoigne has told the High Court he was "scared to speak to anybody" by phone during the 10 years his voicemail was hacked by Mirror Group journalists.
The former England international, 47, said the journalists had "ruined his life".The former England international, 47, said the journalists had "ruined his life".
He said he had known his phone had been hacked but no-one had believed him.He said he had known his phone had been hacked but no-one had believed him.
Describing the experience as "horrendous", Mr Gascoigne linked the phone hacking with his alcoholism.Describing the experience as "horrendous", Mr Gascoigne linked the phone hacking with his alcoholism.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United footballer is complaining about 18 articles, all accepted to have been the product of illegal activity. The former Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Everton footballer is complaining about 18 articles, all accepted to have been the product of illegal activity.
'I'm disgusted''I'm disgusted'
Mr Gascoigne told the court he would often change his phone number "several times a month" because he knew his phone was being hacked.Mr Gascoigne told the court he would often change his phone number "several times a month" because he knew his phone was being hacked.
But his family had not believed his phone was being hacked, he said, while his therapist had told him he was "paranoid" and "going through a mental disorder".
His voice hoarse and shaking with emotion, he said: "I knew I was getting hacked by the Mirror.His voice hoarse and shaking with emotion, he said: "I knew I was getting hacked by the Mirror.
"This continued for ages. Phone calls to my father and family were getting blocked so I changed my mobile."This continued for ages. Phone calls to my father and family were getting blocked so I changed my mobile.
"It happened again so I kept on changing mobiles, five or six times a month.""It happened again so I kept on changing mobiles, five or six times a month."
The hearing in London's High Court will establish what compensation should be paid by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) to eight high-profile figures whose phones were hacked. Mr Gascoigne said the experience of being the victim of phone hacking had been "so scary".
The court has previously heard phone hacking at the newspaper group was on an "industrial scale". He said: "I was scared to speak to anybody... my parents, my family and kids, it was just horrendous.
Mr Gascoigne said: "I couldn't speak to anybody, I was scared to speak to anybody... my parents, my family and kids, it was just horrendous.
"And people can't understand why I became an alcoholic.""And people can't understand why I became an alcoholic."
Fighting back tears, he added: "I would like to trade my mobile in for a coffin because these guys have ruined my life. After speaking briefly, Mr Gascoigne was told he would not face cross-examination by Matthew Nicklin QC, for Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), and his evidence was going unchallenged.
"I've waited 15 years to be sat here and I'm disgusted." He replied: "I have waited 15 years to be sat here so I am disgusted, really.
MGN's barrister Matthew Nicklin has denied phone hacking was carried out by "scores" of Mirror Group journalists, as the court had previously heard, and said it was carried out by a "trusted inner circle". "I would like to trade my mobile phone in for a coffin because these guys have ruined my life. I have no life."
'Obsessed'
In a written statement supplied to the court, Mr Gascoigne said constant media pressure had made it very difficult for him to lead a normal and private life and had led to his family not being as close as they once were.
He said he had suffered from alcohol dependency over a number of years and had also had treatment for drug use and addiction to the drink Red Bull.
Between 2000 and 2006 he had wrongly accused people close to him, such as his stepdaughter Bianca, of going to the newspapers with stories about him, he said.
"I became obsessed about being monitored. I felt that I was being watched or listened into all the time for years and the pressure on me because of that was more than I think any sane person could bear," he said.
The hearing in London's High Court will establish what compensation should be paid by MGN to eight high-profile figures whose phones were hacked.
The court has previously heard phone hacking at the newspaper group was on an "industrial scale".
Mr Nicklin has denied phone hacking was carried out by "scores" of Mirror Group journalists, as the court had previously heard, and said it was carried out by a "trusted inner circle".
The hearing at the High Court in London is considering cases brought by BBC creative director Alan Yentob, soap stars Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin, former footballer Paul Gascoigne, actress Sadie Frost, TV producer Robert Ashworth and flight attendant Lauren Alcorn.The hearing at the High Court in London is considering cases brought by BBC creative director Alan Yentob, soap stars Shane Richie, Shobna Gulati and Lucy Benjamin, former footballer Paul Gascoigne, actress Sadie Frost, TV producer Robert Ashworth and flight attendant Lauren Alcorn.
Seven of the claimants have referred to at least 109 published stories.Seven of the claimants have referred to at least 109 published stories.