Man who got Gazza to sign his ribs as he headed to race trial has autograph permanently TATTOOED
A Paul Gascoigne superfan waited more than an hour outside court to get footie legend's autograph on his chest
A PAUL GASCOIGNE superfan who got the ex-England footie ace to sign his chest as he appeared at court - decided to get the signature permanently tattooed.
Reiss White, 25, from Tamworth, waited for more than an hour outside Dudley Magistrates’ Court to meet his idol Gazza where he was convicted of racially aggravated offence in relation to a "joke" made about a bodyguard in November last year.
The 49-year-old, who has battled alcohol addiction for many years, looked healthy as he arrived at court on racism charges and even posed for selfies with awaiting fans.
Birmingham City and England fan Reiss seized the opportunity to ask the the footie legend to sign his ribs.
He told : “I’ve never had the chance to meet him and I heard on the radio he was going to be at the courthouse just a few miles away from my work, so I left and waited just over an hour for him to arrive."
He added: “He told me my tattoos on my back of three lions and the St. George’s dragon were really nice and when I told him I was going to have his autograph tattooed, he looked at me, smiled and laughed, whilst his friend said ‘You must really like this guy.’”
Reiss, who regularly attends tours to see England in World Cups and European competitions , took to Facebook to share snaps of his new tat and his selfie with Gazza.
Related Stories
Writing on his Facebook page, Reiss said: "There’s one man I’ve always respected and looked up to as a kid.
"The most passionate player to wear the England shirt.
"The man is a legend. Never been so buzzing and star struck in my life."
The court heard how Gascoigne left black security worker Errol Rowe, 38, feeling dazed and completely humiliated after asking him “can you smile so I can see you?” - during An Evening With Gazza show in Wolverhampton.
Gascoigne, whose career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, had denied using “threatening, abusive or insulting” words or behaviour to cause racially-aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, but changed his plea to guilty at the start of a one-day trial.
He was fined £1,000 punitively by the court and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation.
District Judge Graham Wilkinson said the “off-the-cuff” remark at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall last year did not make the retired player a racist, but was an example of insidious low-level racism which needed to be challenged.
Commenting on the verdict, footie fan Reiss insists he doesn't condone what the ex-England midfield has done.
Reiss added: "Racism has no place in the 21st Century, football or today’s society as a whole.
“He should have been careful what he was saying, but he needs people around to remind him he is a good person and I hope he see’s my tattoo and realises that people are still proud of him.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368