After an "incident" at a posh hotel. Thought we'd not heard much from him recently...

Paul Gascoigne has reportedly been sectioned after the troubled ex-England star terrorised guests and staff at a five star hotel during a menacing rampage in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Police were called after the former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder grabbed a night porter by the throat while carrying a steak knife.

The 40-year-old who has battled alcohol addiction was recuperating after a hip operation at the five star Newcastle hotel.

It is understood that he refused to be evacuated after deliberately setting off fire alarms.

A source at the Malmaison hotel said: "Paul Gascoigne was escorted from the hotel early this morning by the police and his sister after assaulting our Night Porter.

"He had allegedly set the fire alarms off at 3am at a break glass point, and when offered assistance with evacuation (he is classed as a disabled guest following surgery) he became aggressive towards the night porter and grabbed him around the throat. He became very agitated and had a steak knife in his pocket."

The hotel was forced to evacuate all its guests after the fire alarms went off.

Fire engines arrived at the scene but there was no fire and Gascoigne is thought to have been the person who broke the glass sensors.

Manager Lizzy Kelk said he was "potentially was a menace to other guests. The guests in the room next to him were moved out as they felt intimidated."

It is understood that the night porter will not be pressing charges against the former football star. The hotel worker was described by staff as 'traumatised' following the incident and has been offered counselling.

A spokesman for Northumbria police said: "Police were called to Malmaison at 4.24am after reports that a guest was behaving in a disruptive manner towards other guests."

Gascoigne's belongings were still at the luxury Malmaison hotel yesterday and are due to be returned via his sister. He had been staying at the hotel for a couple of days after moving from another hotel where rooms cost from £200 a night.

Gascoigne earned 57 England caps and scored ten goals for his country during his football career.

Widely regarded as one of the most gifted footballers of his generation he captured the public's imagination after breaking down in tears during the England v West Germany semi-final in 1990 following a booking that would have ruled him out of the final.

His career also spanned stays at Lazio, Glasgow Rangers, Everton and Middlesbrough.

But his later career was blighted by alcoholism and allegations of domestic abuse against his ex-wife Sheryl Gascoigne.

such a shame as he was a great player in his day .

Poor Gazza's clearly got problems and being sectioned might allow him to confront whatever demons he's facing. The tale of a troubled genius is not uncommon, most geniuses (not genii!) are only a small step from madness and, unfortunately, Gazza is shuffling towards that line. According to Wikipedia "On 21 February 2008 he was detained under the Mental Health Act after an incident at the Ban Louis Jagger Hotel in Newcastle" so which hotel was he detained at?

Its a great shame that yet again Gazza makes the news for the wrong reasons,i have always said that the start of his demise was leaving newcastle when he did,a extreme talent that never got looked after properly as a youngster..

But he's a grown man now, OK he has problems but no-one forces him to act likE he does. He know's when he's going/gone off the rails he isn't helpless or blameless but he does need help if he's to get his life back on track. But doing what? We all saw him try punditry and, even sober, he was unintelligible, he's tried and failed to manage, he's not got the best of brains so what's left for him? An endless round of after dinner [slurred] speeches?

I understand your points there Chopper,what i was trying to say is,when he came bursting on the scence unlike Fergie done at Utd;Gazza was never looked after as a youngster and thats what i feel led to the biggest destruction of one of the best talents to be found in our modern game...
Yes i also agree that his adulthood behaviour is noticably for all to see,and he does need someone to help get his life back on track before he ends up in the "who are you?" Soloon...wasting away through a spirits bottle.

I said to Mrs. 'Chopper' last night that I think the PFA and Gazza should set up a company specifically to organise player testimonials with Gazza fronting the venture, playing in the games (if well/fit enough) and using his contacts to attract the players who'd put bums on seats for the lesser known players who've been great club servants. It would give him a focus, keep him involved in the game in some way and while not making him any real money it's more than likely raise the profile of any testimonial - certainly in the lower leagues. Can you imagine some one club servant of a League 2 or Blue Square club having the likes of the Rangers, Spurs, Lazio and England legends turning up to play in your testimonial which otherwise would be against your local, League 2, rivals? The crowd would be much improved if the testimonial were against a 'Gazza Greats XI' wouldn't it?

So why isn't he out yet? Has he been sectioned indefinitely?