Former England international striker Andy Carroll revealed in his autobiography, Owning It, that he was sexually assaulted in his home during his second spell with Newcastle United in 2021, la Repubblica reported. The 37-year-old forward, who currently plays for and co-owns National League South club Dagenham & Redbridge, disclosed the assault in his book after previously reporting the crime anonymously at the time it occurred.
Kevin Adams Convicted Following 2021 Attack at Carroll Home
The perpetrator behind the assault was identified as Kevin Adams, a 59-year-old friend of Carroll’s then-partner, who was not present at the home when the incident took place. Adams, who is widely known in the United Kingdom for his past work as a dance instructor on the BBC reality television program Fame Academy, was subsequently prosecuted. According to court records, the Chelmsford Crown Court sentenced Adams to 20 months in prison in 2023 after he was convicted of abusing the footballer while he was asleep.
Book Publication and the Decision to Break Silence
Carroll admitted that he considered pulling the passage from his autobiography until the very last moment, frequently avoiding his publisher to delay the decision. He ultimately chose to publish the account after extensive discussions with his partner, Lou Teasdale. It’s scary just thinking about it and until today only a few people knew,
Carroll wrote in the book, as reported by la Repubblica. He added that the choice to speak publicly stemmed from a desire to overcome his own fear and potentially offer comfort to others facing similar trauma.
Trauma Affected Carroll's Daily Routine and Football Career
Reflecting on the long-term consequences of the 2021 attack, Carroll explained that the experience altered every facet of his daily routine and professional career. The former Liverpool and Newcastle player noted that the ordeal occupied his thoughts constantly, making it exceptionally difficult to maintain focus on his athletic career. What happened to me affected every aspect of my life. I thought about it every day and that made it difficult to concentrate on anything else, including football… The trauma of what happened to me hasn’t gone away,
Carroll stated.
Carroll Publicly Links His Name to the Case
While Carroll chose to keep his identity hidden from the public record when he initially reported the crime to law enforcement in 2021, the subsequent investigation led directly to criminal charges and a custodial sentence. The legal process culminated at the Chelmsford Crown Court in 2023, where the judiciary formally handed down the 20-month prison term for Adams. The disclosure in Owning It marks the first time the former Premier League striker has publicly linked his own name to the case.
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