Bianca Gascoigne says Mohamed Al Fayed sexually assaulted her | Mohamed Al Fayed

Bianca Gascoigne has advised how Mohamed Al Fayed subjected her to an alleged “horrific” sexual assault after she began working at Harrods as a 16-year-old.

The 37-year-old daughter of the England footballer Paul Gascoigne mentioned she had not spoken out earlier than due to “embarrassment and disgrace”.

Greater than 200 girls have come ahead to attorneys with allegations referring to the late businessman since a BBC documentary on Fayed was broadcast final month. The Met police have mentioned that 21 girls had approached the power earlier than the BBC movie and {that a} additional 60 additional girls have contacted them since.

In line with Harrods, the posh retailer in Knightsbridge owned by Fayed till 2010, greater than 250 persons are a part of its course of to settle compensation claims.

Gascoigne, a mannequin and actuality TV star, mentioned she had bought to know Fayed via her dad and mom, Paul and Sheryl. She mentioned: “He used to inform me how a lot of a nasty father my dad was, as a result of he used to return into the shop drunk.

“He used to inform me that he [Gascoigne] was a humiliation, that I ought to look to him as a father determine. I simply felt a false sense of safety with him early doorways, as a result of I used to enter the shop with my mum and pa, and he used to return over, be very charming, convey us items, very personable. So I actually felt fairly protected in his presence early doorways.”

Gascoigne began to work at Harrods aged 16 and he or she claimed that on one night Fayed provided her the chance to remain in Harrods’ Park Lane house earlier than a piece flight.

Talking publicly about it for the primary time on Sky’s The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee, Gascoigne mentioned: “He turned up on the house, to my shock. I simply couldn’t imagine it. I used to be simply gobsmacked. I used to be form of very shell-shocked, that I simply didn’t actually know what to do.

“He got here in, after which he sat me down on the couch and was clearly very forceful with the touching and the kissing. He bought his personal out and bought my hand and was making an attempt to manoeuvre it on his components, and when that didn’t work, he was making an attempt to power my head on his lap.

“I don’t understand how however I managed to wiggle away. I believe probably that him realizing my dad and mom … I don’t know, that may have saved me at that second, however it was horrific.

“Clearly, I beloved my job, as a result of it was precisely what I wished to do – that was my dream.”

Requested why she had not spoken out earlier about Fayed, who died final yr on the age of 93, Gascoigne mentioned: “I used to be simply making an attempt to cope with what I used to be coping with, what was occurring, as a result of it was simply so horrific – and I simply didn’t need to lose my job at that time.

“He advised me that if I might say something that I might lose my job. So I simply actually bought scared. I look again now and simply really feel very sorry for my 16-year-old self, and want I may defend her.

“I really feel like I’ve to do that, I need to do that, and I need to stand for the ladies and simply hopefully make any form of change [so] that sooner or later, my daughter wouldn’t should undergo one thing like this. It will be spoken about, and these predators wouldn’t be capable of get away with what they’re getting away with.”

Dean Armstrong KC, Bruce Drummond and Maria Mulla, the attorneys representing the Justice for Harrods Survivors group, mentioned Gascoigne’s expertise fitted a sample of behaviour behind Fayed’s alleged abuse.

They mentioned: “As we choose our method via the sickening morass of Mohamed Al Fayed’s abuse, a unifying thread is the concern and disgrace our survivors have carried with them within the years since they have been focused and abused.

“One other thread, nonetheless, is the ability and braveness our survivors really feel once they communicate up about their experiences. As our shopper Bianca Gascoigne has so bravely testified at the moment, Al Fayed would use Harrods as a lure to draw and abuse, together with very younger girls like Bianca, who was solely 16 years outdated when she was focused.

“We salute her bravery and are proud to signify her and our different survivors as we transfer ahead collectively in our quest for justice.”

A Harrods spokesperson mentioned earlier this month: “We need to supply our help with any new or present inquiries the Metropolitan police obtain in relation to accusations relating to the actions of Fayed. Harrods is in direct communication with the Metropolitan police to make sure we’re providing our help with any of their related inquiries.”