Bianca Gascoigne alleges Mohamed Al Fayed raped her in a Harrods owned apartment when she was just 16

The daughter of England footballer Paul Gascoigne has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed.

Model Bianca Gascoigne, 37, said she was groomed and assaulted by the former Harrods boss when she worked in the store as a teenager.

In an interview, she told how Mr Al Fayed would grope her and force her to kiss him during their weekly meetings, before turning up at her apartment.

Whilst there, he allegedly sexually assaulted her when she was just 16.

The daughter of the ex-footballer told Sky News she often visited Harrods as a child with her parents, where Mr Al Fayed would charm the family and bring them gifts.

She began working there at 16 on the shop floor and said she initially felt “safe” in Mr Al Fayed’s company due to having previously met him.

But she described a pattern of grooming in which Mr Al Fayed told her to see him as a ‘father figure’ – before going on to assault her.

Recounting how Mr Al Fayed once offered her the Harrods Park Lane apartment to stay in before catching a flight, she said he unexpectedly turned up while she was there.

Ms Gascoigne, who has recently had a daughter, told Sky News: ‘(Al Fayed) turned up at the apartment to my shock, I was just gobsmacked, I was kind of very shell-shocked.”

“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 onto his lap.

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

She said she believes the fact Mr Al Fayed knew her parents “saved her” after she refused to give in to his sexual demands, adding that the encounter was “horrific” and no one knew what was happening to her because she was scared to “bring shame” to her family.

She also accused the late businessman of repeatedly telling her Paul Gascoigne was a “bad father” and making comments about his mental health and addiction problems.

He allegedly began groping her and forced her to kiss him every week during meetings, telling her if she told anyone she would lose her “dream job”.

Ms Gascoigne is the latest victim to come forward after it was revealed Harrods is in the process of settling some of the 250 claims against Mr Al Fayed.

The luxury department store said the women came forward following a BBC documentary last month, which uncovered years of sexual abuse allegations against the former owner, who died last year aged 94.

The Metropolitan Police said it has recorded 60 fresh allegations, in addition to 21 women who went to police between 2005 and 2023, including claims of rape and sexual assault.

Separately to compensation claims, several law firms are also bringing a case against Harrods on behalf of victims.

Harrods has been contacted for comment.