Former England striker Andy Carroll has revealed that he was sexually assaulted by a man at his home in 2021 while playing for Newcastle United.
The 37-year-old made the disclosure in his newly released autobiography, Owning It, explaining that he initially struggled with whether to make the experience public. He said he eventually decided to include it after discussing the matter extensively with his partner, Lou Teasdale.
Carroll said the incident occurred after he returned from a Newcastle match. A male friend of his then-partner had visited the house to watch a boxing match and planned to stay overnight.
According to Carroll’s account, he went to bed after having a few drinks and later woke up to find the man attempting to sexually assault him. Carroll said he threw him out of the house and later knocked him unconscious when he attempted to get back inside. He then contacted the police.
The man denied the allegation but was subsequently prosecuted and found guilty of sexual offences. He was sentenced to three years in prison, placed on the National Sex Offender Register and banned from entering the village where Carroll lived.
Carroll testified during the trial, describing the experience as humiliating and extremely difficult. He said the assault continued to affect his life and made it difficult to concentrate, including on football.
“I was sexually assaulted, there I said it,” Carroll wrote in his autobiography, explaining that he hoped speaking about the experience could help others who had experienced similar abuse.
Carroll, who earned nine England caps and played for Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham, now plays for and co-owns National League South club Dagenham & Redbridge.
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