Bianca Gascoigne speaks out about alleged ‘horrific’ sexual assault by Mohamed Al Fayed – The Irish News

Reality TV star and model Bianca Gascoigne has spoken about how former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed subjected her to an alleged “horrific” sexual assault.

Speaking to Sky News, Ms Gascoigne, 37, the daughter of ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne, said the thought of bringing “shame and shame” had put her off speaking out previously.

Her words came after the department store said more than 250 people are part of the process to settle compensation claims over alleged historical sexual misconduct by Mr Al Fayed.

The Met asked prosecutors to decide whether to charge the former Harrods and Fulham FC owner in connection with just two of 21 women who made allegations between 2005 and 2023, including rape and sexual assault.

Evidence was shown to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2009 and 2015, but it decided not to proceed with it either because there was “no realistic prospect of conviction”.

Speaking about her time at Harrods, Mrs Gascoigne said: “He (Mr Al Fayed) used to tell me how bad my dad was because he came into the store drunk.

“He always told me he (Gascoigne) was a disgrace, that I should look at him as a father figure.

“I just felt a false sense of security when he went out early, because I went into the store with my mom and dad, and he came by, was very charming, brought us presents, very personable.

“So I literally felt very safe in his presence at the early doors.”

Ms Gascoigne told Sky News that Mr Al Fayed had offered her the opportunity to stay at the Harrods Park Lane apartment before a work flight.

She told the broadcaster: “He came to the apartment, much to my horror. I just couldn’t believe it.

“I was just amazed. I was quite shocked because I just didn’t really know what to do.

“He came in, and then he put me on the couch and was obviously very forceful with the touching and kissing.

‘He took out his genitals and grabbed my hand and tried to maneuver it onto his parts, and when that didn’t work he tried to force my head onto his lap.

“I don’t know how, but I managed to wobble away.”

Mrs Gascoigne continued: “I think he possibly knew my parents… I don’t know, that might have saved me at the time, but it was horrific.

“Obviously I loved my job because it was exactly what I wanted to do – that was my dream.

“He did all these things to me and I was close to people he knew, and I felt like I couldn’t even tell them either because I didn’t want to bring shame and embarrassment.”

Explaining why she had not spoken out about Mr Al Fayed earlier, Ms Gascoigne said: “I was just trying to deal with what I was dealing with, what was going on, because it was just so horrific – and I just didn’t want to lose my job at that moment.

“He told me if I said anything I would lose my job.

“So I just got really scared.

“I look back now and just feel sorry for my 16-year-old self, and wish I could protect her.

“I feel like I need to do this, I want to do this, and I want to stand up for the women and hopefully make some kind of change (so) my daughter doesn’t have to go through something like this in the future.

“It would be talked about, and these predators wouldn’t be able to get away with what they’re getting away with.”

Mr Al Fayed took over Harrods in 1985 for £615 million.

In 2010, after 26 years in charge, he sold the department store to Qatar’s royal family for a reported £1.5 billion.

Mr Al Fayed died in 2023 at the age of 94.