Alex bares the truth

The full extent of George Best’s alcoholic binges and drink-fuelled rages was revealed by his betrayed wife Alex yesterday.

In a frank interview, the 31-year-old said the fallen soccer idol has damaged his new liver by drinking ‘huge’ amounts of wine, whisky and brandy.
And she told how he lashed out at her when she confronted him over claims he was involved with Paula Shapland, a crop-haired blonde he met at his local pub.

The former air hostess, who has walked out on her 57-year- old husband, also showed him exactly what he was missing in a series of revealing photos for the Mail on Sunday’s Night & Day magazine.

One shows her in 6in stiletto heels with only a tiny chain mail dress decorated in diamonds covering her tanned body.

She was also shown in a seethrough lace top, and topless with one arm wrapped round her breasts while in her other hand she clutches a string of diamonds.

Meanwhile Best, once a legendary womaniser, admitted to the newspaper that he has lost his ability to perform in bed.

‘Because I have been pretty ill for three years the sexual side hasn’t been too good — especially for her as I haven’t been capable,’ he said.

Alex told the magazine of the moment she suspected her husband was having an affair while they were in Malta to celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary.
‘I found a piece of paper with a number on it in the pocket of George’s tracksuit bottoms.

‘There was no name with it. I phoned the number and a girl answered. I asked who it was and she said “It’s Paula” and I just smashed the phone down.

‘I challenged George but he said he did not know who it was and it was nothing to do with him.

‘I knew he was lying — the only numbers he carries are those of his agent and his doctor.

‘We were rowing and he got really violent. He grabbed my hair and started shoving me around. I bundled him out of the room and he got really angry. We tussled but I wasn’t having it, so I slammed the door and locked him out.’

Best is currently holed up at the Forest Mere health farm in Hampshire, recovering from a week-long binge which began when Alex fled Malta following revelations he had tried to seduce 25-year-old Miss Shapland.

Alex, who has been holidaying with friends on the Costa del Sol, said Best’s alleged affair was the final straw.

‘I don’t know if he slept with the marriage-wrecking bitch. To be honest I can’t listen to any more of his lies.’

She also told how once, in a drink-fuelled rage, Best hacked off her hair as she slept and scribbled on her body with a marker pen.

And on her 25th birthday she reported him to the police after he lashed out at her, but she did not press charges.

She first realised he was drinking again in 2001 when she noticed the bottles of red wine she kept for cooking had had their tops resealed. Best recovered, she said, and had been sober for two years when she discovered he was hitting the bottle again last month.

‘Wine was the least of it,’ she said. ‘Over the next two weeks he was downing huge amounts of whisky and brandy. I’m sure that’s why he has damaged his new liver so much.’

The situation culminated in Best going on a three-day bender at The Chequers pub near their home in Lower Kingswood, Surrey.

Best has admitted hitting his wife but said he was trying to stop her attacking him. He has not been in touch with her since she left their hotel in Malta.
Last week, Best told the Daily Mail he did not want Alex back and was ‘bored’ with her.

He added that he could not help drinking, despite warnings from his doctor.