Gazza must be locked up, says former Tottenham team-mate Mabbutt

The ex-England star was released from hospital yesterday after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act for the second time this year.

His one-time Tottenham colleague Mabbutt has spoke of his frustration Gascoigne had repeatedly been able to discharge himself from treatment.

Good old days: Mabbutt celebrates with Gazza (right) and Steve Sedgeley (left) after Spurs 3-1 win over Arsenal in the semi-final of the FA Cup in 1991 at Wembley.

Mabbutt told the Victoria Derbyshire programme on BBC Radio 5 Live: "What I
think is important for people to realise is that Paul is not a celebrity drunk.

"The fact of the matter is he's suffering from very serious illnesses.

"These illnesses mean that he honestly believes that his condition is nowhere near as grave as it really is.

"Hence when he discharges himself from the treatment programmes, which he has
done a number of times over the last two or three months, he relapses."

Mabbutt said the terms of the 1983 Mental Health Act meant Gascoigne could not be held against his will for an extended period.

"Paul does have these self-destructive urges, which do put him in a life-threatening situation, and if we're not careful this could lead to a serious tragedy," he said.

"All that we're asking is to try and find a way to be able to contain Paul so that he can undergo this treatment and rehabilitation to give him the best chance to overcome his very serious problems."

Gascoigne was sectioned under the Mental Health Act on Sunday after approaching
a member of the public in an agitated state in Hemel Hempstead, Herts.

He was previously sectioned in February after an incident at a Tyneside hotel.

He spent more than a fortnight at Middleton St George Hospital, in Darlington, Co Durham, before being released.

At the weekend his sister, Anna Gascoigne, spoke of her fears her brother would die if he was not sectioned.

Gascoigne's former agent, Mel Stein, called today for the media to leave the troubled former player alone.

He told 5 Live: "He needs to be left alone in the hands of specialists, and I honestly think that well-meaning amateurs need to keep out of this."

But he added: "At the end of the day, he has to help himself as well.

 "One of Paul's problems over the years is he's not wanted to help himself and I do think that the professionals can go much further than any of the friends and family."