Bianca Gascoigne speaks about alleged sexual assault by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed

Bianca Gascoigne, 37, the model and reality TV personality, has opened up about an alleged "horrific" sexual assault experience with ex-Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed in an interview with Sky News.

The step-daughter of former footballer Paul Gascoigne explained that the fear of bringing "embarrassment and shame" to her family delayed her decision to come forward.

Her revelations surface amid Harrods' announcement that it is settling claims with over 250 individuals alleging historic sexual misconduct by Mr Al Fayed. Despite allegations from 21 women reported to the Metropolitan Police, involving claims of rape and sexual assault stretching from 2005 to 2023, prosecutors only considered charges for two cases.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reviewed evidence in 2009 and 2015 but did not pursue the cases, citing insufficient chances of a "a realistic prospect of conviction".

Reflecting on her past interactions with Mr Al Fayed while working at Harrods, Ms Gascoigne recounted: "He (Mr Al Fayed) used to tell me how much of a bad father my dad was, because he used to come into the store drunk. He used to tell me that he (Gascoigne) was an embarrassment, that I should look to him as a father figure."

Describing her early sense of security around him, she added: "I just felt a false sense of security with him early doors, because I used to go into the store with my mum and dad, and he used to come over, be very charming, bring us gifts, very personable. So I literally felt quite safe in his presence early doors."

Ms Gascoigne recounted to Sky News a harrowing experience involving Mr Al Fayed, who had offered her a stay in the Harrods Park Lane apartment before a work flight.

"He turned up at the apartment, to my shock. I just couldn’t believe it. I was just gobsmacked. I was kind of very shell-shocked, that I just didn’t really know what to do."

Reflecting on the incident, Ms Gascoigne speculated on why it did not escalate: "I think possibly that him knowing my parents... I don’t know, that might have saved me at that moment, but it was horrific."

Despite the trauma, she felt trapped due to her career aspirations: "Obviously, I loved my job, because it was exactly what I wanted to do – that was my dream." She felt isolated and unable to share her experience: "He was doing all these things to me and I was close to people that he knew, and I felt like I couldn’t even tell them either because I didn’t want to bring embarrassment and shame."

Ms Gascoigne also explained her silence on the matter until now: "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 point." She revealed the threat that kept her quiet: "He told me that if I would say anything that I would lose my job.

"So I just really got scared. I look back now and just feel very sorry for my 16-year-old self, and wish I could protect her."

"I feel like I have to do this, I want to do this, and I want to stand for the women and just hopefully make any kind of change (so) that in the future, my daughter wouldn’t have to go through something like this. It would be spoken about, and these predators wouldn’t be able to get away with what they’re getting away with."

Mr Al Fayed acquired Harrods for £615 million in 1985. In 2010, after 26 years at the helm, he sold the iconic department store to the Qatari Royal family for a reported £1.5 billion. He passed away in 2023, aged 94.

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