The trial of former England football star Paul Gascoigne accused of drink driving was adjourned today following hours of legal wrangling.
At one point the ex-Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur player was representing himself after his lawyer withdrew from the case at Northallerton Magistrates Court.
Gascoigne (43) is accused of driving a Ford Transit van while more than four times the limit on February 7th at Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire.
The court was told he was found to have 467 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. The legal limit is 107 milligrams. He denies the charge. He has also pleaded not guilty to driving without insurance.
The former footballer was due to be represented by lawyer Stephen Andrews, but he withdrew from the case after lengthy legal discussions this morning. Mr Andrews told magistrates he had only recently been instructed and he needed more time to prepare his case and call witnesses.
He said some of the legal documents relating to the case had been sent to Gascoigne’s old address in Jesmond.
The court was told Gascoigne now lives at his father’s house in Gateshead and had also spent time in rehab and at a holiday cottage.
But Mr Andrews application to adjourn was dismissed by the bench which accused Gascoigne of creating a delay.
The magistrates said they intended to hear the case today along with that of co-accused Michael Harvey.
Harvey (41) of Wood Street, Gateshead, is accused of similar offences. He has denied driving a Ford Transit van over the legal limit on February 7 at Leeming Bar. The court was told he had 259 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. He has also denied driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.
Charles Weidner, representing Harvey, also applied for the case to be adjourned this morning. He argued that his client’s case would be prejudiced as Gascoigne was no longer legally represented. The application was also rejected by the magistrates.
The court was due to hear evidence this afternoon but it was finally adjourned after magistrates heard there was not enough time left in the day to hear the case.
Mr Andrews came back into court and told the bench he would be representing Gascoigne at the new trial.
The court has yet to fix a date for the new trial.
PA