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British model Bianca Gascoigne has said she was sexually assaulted by Mohamed al Fayed when she worked at Harrods as a 16-year-old. Ms Gascoigne recounted the ordeal in an emotional Sky News interview, saying the businessman would sexually assault and forcibly kiss her during meetings while she worked at the world-famous department store. The 37-year-old, who is the daughter of ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne , said she had visited the store with her parents growing up, and Al Fayed would bring them gifts.
She told the broadcaster that she initially felt safe when she joined Harrods as a teenager, only for the department store’s owner Al Fayed to begin to sexually assault her. Harrods has said more than 250 people are involved in compensation claims over alleged historic sexual misconduct by Al Fayed . Ms Gascoigne said she felt trapped by Al Fayed, who one night offered her the use of the Harrods Park Lane apartment to stay in before a flight.
"[Al Fayed] turned up at the apartment to my shock, I was just gobsmacked, I was kind of very shell-shocked,” she said. "I just didn't really know what to do, he came in and then he sat me down on the sofa..
. he got his privates out and got my hands and was trying to manoeuvre them on his parts. "When that didn't work he was trying to force my head on to his lap.
"And I don't know how but I managed to wiggle away. "And I think possibly you know, that him knowing my parents..
. I don't know, that might have saved me at that moment. But it was horrific.
" A BBC documentary last month, Al Fayed: Predator At Harrods, reported the claims of five women who said they were raped by Mr Al Fayed, who died in 2023 at the age of 94. A number of others have alleged sexual assault. Ms Gascoigne added that Al Fayed would make derogatory comments about her father in an alleged grooming attempt before she joined Harrods, suggesting that she should see him as a father figure instead.
She initially joined Harrods as a shop floor worker but was later promoted to a fashion buyer. On Saturday, Scotland Yard said a "detailed and thorough" review of allegations against Al Fayed was taking place, amid criticism that they did not do enough to investigate Al Fayed, who was not convicted of alleged sex offences while he was alive. The Metropolitan Police asked prosecutors to decide whether to charge Al Fayed, who was also the owner of Fulham FC, in relation to two out of 21 women who made allegations, including of rape and sexual assault, between 2005 and 2023.
Evidence was shown to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2009 and 2015, but it decided not to go ahead with either case because there was not "a realistic prospect of conviction". The Metropolitan Police sought "early investigative advice" from the CPS after 10 other allegations, but no further action was taken, the force said. Mr Al Fayed acquired Harrods for £615 million in 1985.
In 2010, after 26 years in charge, he sold the department store to the Qatari royal family for a reported £1.5 billion. Al Fayed died in August 2023 at the age of 94.
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