Thread: Mirror hacking left Paul Gascoigne 'scared' to use phone

Mirror hacking left Paul Gascoigne 'scared' to use phone


Paul Gascoigne said journalists at Mirror Group Newspapers "ruined" his life

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".

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.

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'
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.

"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."

Read more at....BBC News - Mirror hacking left Paul Gascoigne 'scared' to use phone