IT was a morning of mixed emotions for football legend Paul Gascoigne. Yesterday Gazza received a certificate congratulating him for staying “clean and sober” after successfully completing his “detox”; the first stage in an alcohol rehabilitation programme at a Bournemouth addiction treatment centre.

But the moment had already been marred by headlines he had woken up to claiming he had groped a shop assistant at a Boscombe chemist’s shop after falling off the wagon.

A national tabloid newspaper also claimed that the ex-England, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United ace had asked a window cleaner to buy him two cans of Stella after they had bumped into each other in the street.

In a bid to put the record straight Gascoigne, 43, agreed to speak exclusively to the Daily Echo at the Providence Projects clinic in Boscombe.

Still smarting from the latest tabloid take on his much-publicised battle against alcoholism, he said: “I’ve not come to Bournemouth for a holiday; I’ve come here to get well. It’s all lies but people believe what they read.

“I posed for a picture with that girl after I’d gone into the shop to buy shampoo. I try and be nice to people and then this comes out.

“ If I wanted a couple of cans of lager I’d have stayed in Newcastle and got drunk there. I’ve never seen that guy in my life but things like this happen when I go out. I went to the park for a game of football but they didn’t take any pictures of that. I’m not going to let them get away with it.”

The former England midfielder has become resigned to being constantly in the media spotlight, particularly when he gives in to temptation and the demon drink.

He said: “I’ve been followed for 26 years – it’s not going to change now. The only thing I can change is me.

“I’m also used to the papers telling lies. If I was back home I might have gone down to the pub and got drunk.

“But because I’m in a great place I can talk about it and how daft it is. It’s not fair on the other people here and puts everyone under pressure.”

Despite being involved in a car crash in Newcastle last month, Gascoigne looks remarkably well. He has lost weight but puts it down to the 12 days he spent in hospital on a drip.

“I’d smashed up my ribs and nose; I was in unbearable pain, drugged up and unable to eat. But I’m putting weight back on and working hard to get off drink and get my body and mind in the right place.

“It’s true what they say – one drink is too many and 50 is not enough. I don’t go out for a drink; I got out to get drunk. It’s not a social thing. My hope is to complete the 12-week programme but I’ll take it one day at a time.

“Everyone has been fantastic; not one person has treated me as if I am the famous Paul Gascoigne.

“They call me the Biscuit King because I steal all their biscuits. We’ve all got an illness and are here to help each other.

“I’m a sick person trying to get well. I’ve tried other rehabs and never say never. But this one seems different; more relaxed and more secure.

“Four of us stay in a house, you have to look after yourself, cooking and cleaning – in other places everything is done for you.

“I’ve been to lots of meetings. I know I’m in the right place and enjoy myself more when I’m sober. It’s one of the first places where I have seen people scared to leave.

“I’ll be staying as long as it takes to be the person I want to be. I’ve got a lot of deals ready on the table for when I get well and I want to write a new book.”

Gazza checked in just days after hitting the headlines for turning up drunk at the scene of the tense stand-off between the police and Britain’s most wanted man Raoul Moat.

He gave several barely coherent radio interviews in which he claimed to be a friend of the fugitive and was denied access to Moat.

Gazza denied it was a publicity stunt.

He said: “I’d had a few drinks; I knew Moat from when he had worked on the doors in Newcastle. I was bored and decided to go fishing. But I wasn’t allowed to fish because the area was surrounded by police.

“My dad wasn’t too happy; I spoke to him today as well. He had read what was in the papers but told me to keep working at the programme and get the colour back in may face. My family have always been supportive.

Gascoigne became a household name during the 1990 World Cup, winning 57 caps for England and playing at Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle before retiring from football.

“I’ve no regrets. I’ve had a great career and I think I even won a few medals. Getting injured is what happens in football,” he said.

Gazza, who divorced from his wife Sheryl in 1998, said his “love life” was on hold until he had sorted himself out, adding: “That can wait; the main thing is for me to be happy again. I’ve always completed my rehabs and have stayed sober for three years. I pray to God this one works.”

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