A Waitrose security guard stopped ex-England star Paul Gascoigne after he took a £9 bottle of red wine without paying, it has been claimed.

The troubled 52-year-old was spotted by security leaving a Waitrose in London King's Cross station with the booze and was followed outside by staff.

The former Tottenham and Newcastle star, who has battled alcoholism, said sorry to the security guard and manager, then returned back into the shop to purchase the red wine.

Paul Gascoigne at half-time during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between England and Montenegro at Wembley Stadium on November 14 this year

A witness told the Sunday Mirror: 'I walked into the shop then saw Gazza outside.

'He walked in behind another man who picked a bottle of red wine up from a shelf and headed towards the checkouts.

'But while he was queueing, Gazza took the bottle of wine out of his hand and walked out of the shop without paying.

'It's only a very small store so the security guard had seen everything.'

The witness added that the security guard confronted Gascoigne, who apologised, and then returned into the store and paid for the £9 bottle of red wine.

Gascoigne jumps over the attempted tackle of his Belgian counterpart Franky Van Der Elst during the World Cup second round match between England and Belgium on 26 June 1990 in Bologna

The incident comes just months after he was cleared of sex assault after kissing a woman on a train.

A Waitrose & Partners spokesman told the newspaper: 'We respect the privacy of our customers and we have no information to provide.'

MailOnline has contacted Gascoigne's representatives for comment.