Ex England striker Andy Carroll reveals he was sexually assaulted in 2021
Former England striker Andy Carroll has disclosed that he was sexually assaulted by a man in 2021, an experience he says has had a lasting impact on his life.
The 37-year-old, who was granted automatic anonymity as a victim of sexual assault, has chosen to speak publicly about the incident in his autobiography, Owning It.
The assault occurred at Carroll’s home while he was playing for his boyhood club Newcastle during his second spell with the team. The perpetrator was subsequently convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.
Carroll, who is now a player and co-owner of non-league side Dagenham & Redbridge, said he only decided to include the incident in his autobiography at the last minute after discussing it extensively with his girlfriend, Lou Teasdale.
According to Carroll, a friend of his former partner, who was away at the time, had visited his home to watch a boxing match and was expected to spend the night.
Carroll said the assault happened while he was asleep. He recalled throwing the man out of the house before knocking him unconscious when he attempted to return.
The former Liverpool and West Ham forward then contacted the police and broke down in tears in the arms of his children’s nanny.
The attacker, whose identity has not been disclosed, was convicted of sexual offences and placed on the sex offenders’ register. Carroll gave evidence during the trial, which he described as an extremely difficult and humiliating experience.
In his autobiography, Carroll wrote that publicly acknowledging the assault was frightening but said he hoped sharing his experience could help others who may have gone through similar experiences.
He explained that he and Teasdale spent considerable time considering whether the incident should be included in the book before ultimately deciding to reveal it.
Carroll also said the assault affected virtually every part of his life, including his football career, as he struggled to concentrate and found himself thinking about the incident every day.
He added that although time had passed, the trauma had not disappeared.
Carroll, who earned nine caps for England, joined Dagenham & Redbridge in July 2025 and has made six appearances in the National League South this season.
Source: BBC
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