Paul Gascoigne charged with harassment of former girlfriend and photographer

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne has been charged with the harassment of his former girlfriend and a photographer.

Gascoigne, known as Gazza, is alleged to have sent abusive tweets, text messages and telephone calls to Amanda Thomas over a period of 13 days in March this year.

The fallen soccer star had a relationship with mum-of-two Mrs Thomas, 44, after meeting her at a post office in Boscombe, Dorset, where he underwent rehab treatment for his well-documented alcohol addiction.

But the pair are reported to have split up before the alleged harassment happened.

Gazza, 48, has also been charged with harassing photographer Andy Stone in a similar manner during the same time period.

The former England player had his case briefly heard at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on September 29th but it is understood he did not appear for the five minute hearing.

The matter was adjourned until later this month when Gazza, of Lilliput, Poole, is expected to attend the same court to enter a plea to the two charges.

The first charge alleges that between March 9th and March 22nd this year he "pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of Amanda Thomas and which you knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of her in that you sent abusive tweets via Twitter, telephone calls and text messages".

In the second charge he is accused of a similar offence against Mr Stone, 49, from Southampton, between March 19th and March 22nd.

The alleged offences are contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Former Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers midfielder Gazza moved to Bournemouth in 2012 to attend the Providence rehab clinic.

He lived in a penthouse flat overlooking the sea in the the Boscombe area to begin with before moving into a harbour-side flat in Poole. He now lives in a rented bungalow in Poole.