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Blog entry by Cara Shively

Inside bizarre 'relationship' between Paul Gascoigne and Raoul Moat

Inside bizarre 'relationship' between Paul Gascoigne and Raoul Moat

The seven-day search for gunman in July 2010 was the and made headlines around the world.

After killing one victim and wounding two others in a two-day shooting spree,  by camping out in the Northumbrian countryside.

As snipers focused their sights on Raoul, footballer Paul Gascoigne made a bizarre appearance, turning up with beer and chicken as he begged officers to allow him to help the killer following a drink and drug binge.

The pursuit has now been turned into a t - with many eager to see the depiction of Gazza's involvement.

But since the unpredictable turn of events has been omitted from the series over fears it would 'trivialise' the story, MailOnline takes a look back at the bizarre (and non-existent) 'relationship' between Gazza and Raoul.

Unexpected: Inside the bizarre 'relationship' between Paul Gascoigne and Raoul Moat as ITV omits the footballer's involvement from its new drama series.

Paul is pictured arriving at the scene of the manhunt in Rothbury in 2010, brandishing the snacks for his 'friend' Raoul

What really happened? 

It's 9pm and former England footballer Paul is watching the coverage on the news in Newcastle.

He is so high on drink and drugs that he convinces himself that he knows Raoul. 

He recalled the bizarre episode during his 'Evening with Paul Gascoigne' talk at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre in 2015.

He said: 'You've got to realise I'm half cut anyway, sitting in the living room, I've got about six lines [of cocaine] lined up.

I'm not realising much but a good line and me and Raoul Moat are sort of friends.

'A couple more lines and we are good buddies. A few whiskies, another few lines, I've had about eight lines and we went to school together.'

Paul calls a taxi and asks the driver to take him to Rothbury.

''You're not going where I think you're going?' the driver asks.

'Yes, I am,' Paul replies. 'I have been through so much, evDeN eVe nAKLiyat I am the best therapist in the world, eVDEN Eve nAKliyaT I can save him.'

By 10pm, arc lights are put in to position around the patch of ground by the riverbank. Raoul refuses the police's offer of a raincoat.

Paul arrives at the cordon carrying food and a fishing rod, and officers ask him where he's going.

'I'm going to see me mate Moaty,' Paul replies. The police laugh and tell him to go home, but Paul insists he knows where to find him, as he can see the light of a helicopter shining down on him.

The police explain that that's the light from a star.

30 minutes later, Raoul calls out to the police that he doesn't want to go on: 'I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a cell. I have not got a dad — no one cares about me.'

Paul phones local station Real Radio to explain in a slurred voice why he's at the siege: 'Listen, I've driven from Newcastle to Rothbury.

It cost a lot of money.

'I've brought a dressing gown for him, a big jacket, I've bought some chicken, some bread and a can of lager, a fishing rod, coz I've heard he's by the river and I've got a fishing rod so we can fish together and have a chat with him .

. . I think I can help him through this.

'He's a lovely bloke... all he wants to do is surrender.'

The Press call Gascoigne's agent, EVDeN eve nAkLiYAt Kenny Shepherd, for his reaction: 'He's doing what? I am sitting having an evening meal in Majorca.

I'm speechless.'

A few hours later Paul will wake up to hundreds of messages on his phone. 'I thought: 'What have I done yesterday? I've got chicken by my side, fishing rods, a Barbour [jacket], I'm like, 'F*** me, I must have done something. If you beloved this short article and you would like to acquire additional information relating to evden eVE nakLiyAt kindly go to our web page. ''

Oh dear!

The seven-day search for gunman Raoul Moat in July 2010 was the biggest manhunt in modern British history and made headlines around the world

What has Paul said about it since?

He told in 2020: 'I just remember that I was in a taxi, I had a fishing rod, some chicken, four cans of lager and eVdEN eVe NAKLiyAT a fishing jacket.

'I thought that I could take Raoul Moat fishing because he was near a river.

'I told the taxi driver 'Head for the airport' and then when we got to Newcastle airport I said 'Head for Rothbury'.

'The taxi driver said, 'You are not going where I think you are going?' And I said, 'Yes I am.''

Why did Raoul Moat go on the run?

Raoul became Britain's most wanted fugitive after he went on the run for seven days before taking his own life in a stand-off with armed police in July 2010.

He had murdered Christopher Brown, 29, who was dating his ex-partner Samantha Stobbart who he also shot and wounded in the street in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

The former nightclub bouncer then shot and blinded PC David Rathband.

Raoul threatened to target more police officers after launching into his murderous rampage following his release from prison.

PC Rathband tragically took his own life two years later aged 44.

Reflecting: Paul said in 2020: 'I just remember that I was in a taxi, I had a fishing rod, some chicken, four cans of lager and a fishing jacket' (pictured in April 2023)

What was the timeline of events?

Thursday, July 1: Raoul is released from Durham prison after serving 18 weeks for assault

Friday, July 2: Prison staff warn police Moat may want to harm Samantha Stobbart

Saturday, July 3: Raoul shoots dead Samantha's new boyfriend Chris Brown outside her home in Birtley, Gateshead, and also injures her.

Manhunt is launched for Raoul.

Sunday, July 4: PC David Rathband is shot in his patrol car and critically injured. Moat rings officers claiming Samantha was having an affair with a police officer

Monday, July 5: Manhunt for Raoul continues

Tuesday, July 6: Raoul's car is discovered in Rothbury, Northumberland and police flood the area setting up a two-mile exclusion zone.

A letter written by Raoul reveals his intentions to declare war on the police

Wednesday, July 7: Officers find a tent where Raoul had been sleeping and another letter from him

Thursday, July 8: Police say Raoul had made threats to the general public and two men were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and bailed

Friday, July 9: At 7pm Raoul comes out from his hiding place and reporters watch as he lies on the ground with a gun threatening to kill himself.

Police try to negotiate with him for six hours

Saturday, July 10: A gunshot is heard at 1.10am and Raoul is declared dead after being rushed to hospital. Police said Moat appeared to have killed himself

ITV's The Hunt For Raoul Moat airs consecutively on April 16, 17 and 18.

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Good watch: ITV's The Hunt For Raoul Moat airs consecutively on April 16, 17 and 18 (actor Matt Stokoe pictured as Raoul)

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