The truth comes out
Former England forward Andy Carroll has bravely come forward, revealing he was sexually assaulted in 2021. The 37-year-old athlete, who is currently a player and co-owner for Dagenham & Redbridge, shared the deeply personal story in his new autobiography, Owning It.
The incident
The assault occurred at his home during his second stint at Newcastle. Carroll was sleeping when a friend of his former partner, who was away at the time, attacked him. After realizing what happened, Carroll immediately ejected the man from his house. When the attacker tried to force his way back in, Carroll knocked him unconscious.
Seeking justice
Following the incident, Carroll chose to testify in court—a process he described as "humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous." The attacker was eventually found guilty of sexual offences, sentenced to three years in prison, and placed on the sex offenders register.
Carroll admitted that writing about this was a last-minute decision made after long talks with his partner, Lou Teasdale. He noted that the trauma impacted every part of his life, making it tough to stay focused on his career.
Why it matters
By speaking out, Carroll hopes to help others who have been through similar experiences. He wrote, "Scary to talk about but it’s made [me] the person I am today as much as any of the good stuff. And if me talking about it helps just one person then good, it will have been worth it."
