NEWCASTLE - Former England hero Paul Gascoigne has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, after he was said to be acting as a "potential menace" at a luxury hotel.
Gascoigne was detained after Northumbria Police were called to the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead on Wednesday night.
It followed an incident at the Malmaison Hotel in Newcastle hours earlier, where the hotel said the star made other guests and staff feel "threatened".
The 40-year-old has been treated numerous times for drink and mental health problems. Police said there were no injuries.
A spokeswoman for Malmaison said Gascoigne had been staying at the hotel for two weeks when the incident happened.
"He was a potential menace to other guests who felt threatened by his behaviour so he was picked up by his sister and then he went to the Hilton."
She added: "He moved towards the night porter who felt threatened."
But she said the night porter is now "absolutely fine" and will not be pressing charges.
She said Gascoigne had been "absolutely charming" during his stay at the hotel before the incident.
The Malmaison describes itself on its website as "the hip haven for party people, vultures of culture and big style retail therapists alike".
A spokeswoman for Hilton Hotels said Gascoigne had been there for only a day.
She said there was no trouble before police arrived and he checked in on Wednesday morning.
She said: "The call actually came in from the police so it was not from the Hilton.
"From our end the police call came in and we were obviously happy to help but there was nothing that happened at the hotel to make us think that there was anything wrong and once the police arrived that evening, he was escorted peacefully away."
She added: "It's a very sensitive situation."
No members of staff at the hotel were available to comment.
Gascoigne has had a troubled history of emotional instability and erratic behaviour.
Once regarded as one of the world's best footballers, Gascoigne's playing career was plagued by personal problems, many linked to his heavy drinking.
In 2005, he was hospitalised with pneumonia, sparking fears over his long-term health, and last year he underwent emergency surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer.
He has also had several run-ins with the police over the years.
There was no reply at the homes of Gascoigne's father and sister in Dunston, Gateshead, on Thursday.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Police attended the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead yesterday evening after we received a report of concern for a 40-year-old man staying at the hotel.
"The man was detained under the Mental Health Act and no-one was injured during the incident."
Police confirmed the man detained at the Hilton had been involved in the earlier incident at the Malmaison Hotel.
A spokesman said: "Police were called to Malmaison in Newcastle at 4.24am on Wednesday February 20 after reports that a guest was behaving in a disorderly manner towards other guests.
"The man was spoken to by police and left the hotel."
