Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has claimed in court that phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers drove him to alcoholism.
The 47-year-old, who was giving evidence at the High Court today, stated that he changed his mobile phone number five times within a month because of hacking fears.
The former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder also revealed that he considered taking his own life after checking into the Priory clinic in October 2000.
"It's just horrendous," The Guardian quotes Gascoigne as saying. "And people can't understand why I became an alcoholic. I felt that I could not cope with the media attention anymore and I seriously thought about jumping in front of a train.
"At the time I was going through a bad time because I knew I was getting hacked. I knew 110%. No one believed it. I was speaking to [my therapist] and it clicked again. He told me I'm paranoid, I'm going through a mental disorder.
"I said, 'there's fuck all wrong with me.' I know I'm getting hacked. I know and he put the phone down on us. I never told a lie. I've got nothing to lie about. Nothing. Disgusting crap."
Gascoigne went on to say: "I'd like to trade my mobile in for a coffin because those guys have ruined my life. Left me in a state."
Eight people are suing MGN for damages in relation to phone hacking.
