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Sheryl Gascoigne has launched a legal action against the News of the World over a story which she claimed falsely accused her of being a liar.
Gascoigne is seeking libel damages of up to £100,000 over a story from October headed ‘You Lying Bitch’in which her ex-husband, former England footballer Paul Gascoigne, countered claims made in her autobiography that he had attacked her.
She claims the interview with her former husband suggested she had deliberately lied in her book titled, Stronger: My Life Surviving Gazza.
Gascoigne, a mother of three, has instructed law firm Clintons to act on her behalf. She is claiming aggravated damages as she believes the story damaged her reputation, caused her considerable distress and embarrassment.
According to a writ filed at the High Court, Gascoigne launched her legal bid, in part, over the use of ‘provocative and inflammatory headlines”.
The nature of the allegations, which she says were a particularly unpleasant attack on her reputation, and the offensive tone of the story both portrayed her as a callous and grasping woman.
According the writ, Gascoigne claims the newspaper did not tell her about the interview with her former husband until the day of printing and publishers News Group have refused to apologise or to take any steps to mitigate the damage caused to her.
She has also accused the paper of approaching Paul Gascoigne with a view to publishing a sensational story, and encouraging him to make serious allegations against her.
She is also seeking an injunction banning further publication of the story.
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