An emotional Paul Gascoigne appeared in his first TV interview on Good Morning Britain earlier today since being cleared of sexual assault charges this month.
Known as Gazza, the 52-year-old fought back tears while speaking to Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway about what he describes as the 'year from hell'.
Following a four-day trial last week, the former England footballer was cleared of charges after he was accused of forcefully grabbing a woman's face and kissing her on a train between York and Durham last August.
He kept his innocence throughout the case and revealed how he was only trying to defend the woman from offensive comments being made by other passengers regarding her weight.
He told the ITV hosts how he coped in the aftermath of the incident and admitted his encounter with the law was a big test after his years of battling with alcohol addiction.
Now six months sober, the football star said: "It did get hard walking around street... sorry."
Kate got him some tissues as he began to tear up, before revealing that is was the support from fans that got him through.
He continued: "I think I spent the whole year telling people I did nothing wrong... sorry."
Paul owned up to 'pecking' a woman one the lips while aboard a train after passengers called her "fat", "ugly" and a "fat lass".
In his police statement, he said he wanted to reassure the lady and give her a "confidence boost" as he didn't think this wasn't the case.
Despite thinking little of the situation initially, he was shocked when he was told by police that they needed to speak to him.
He told Kate Garraway and his long-time friend Ben Shepard about the moment he began to worry about what could happen.
"I think I was more scared when I sat down with my lawyers and they told me, I did get a bit worried." He added.
He also told the presenters he had remained sober throughout the "horrendous" experience, admitting he now has become "more cautious" of people since the whole ordeal.
He said: "Most people would go out and celebrate but I didn't feel I had anything to celebrate. I'd say the rest of my life depended on this."
