Former England international Andy Carroll has publicly revealed that he was sexually assaulted at his home in 2021 by a man who was later sentenced to three years in prison. The 37-year-old forward, who received automatic legal anonymity as a survivor of sexual assault, disclosed the ordeal in his new autobiography titled ‘Owning it’.
The incident occurred during his second spell with his hometown club, Newcastle United, while a friend of his former partner was scheduled to stay overnight after watching a boxing match. According to the book, the attack happened while Carroll was sleeping. He subsequently threw the perpetrator out of the house and knocked him unconscious when the man attempted to return.
Carroll immediately contacted emergency services and was left sobbing in the arms of his children’s nanny. The unnamed assailant was later found guilty of sexual offenses and placed on the sex offender register. Testifying in court proved to be a humiliating, embarrassing, and horrendous experience for the footballer.
The player, who also featured for Liverpool, West Ham United, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, and French clubs Amiens and Bordeaux, stated that he decided to include the revelation ‘at the very last minute’ following discussions with his girlfriend Lou Teasdale. He admitted that he avoided his publisher for a prolonged period because he feared getting cold feet.
Writing in the book, Carroll noted that while the subject is frightening to discuss, it has ultimately shaped his identity. He expressed hope that sharing his story might assist at least one other person. The trauma heavily impacted every aspect of his daily life and football career, causing persistent thoughts that made it difficult to maintain focus.
Carroll currently serves as a player and co-owner for non-league side Dagenham & Redbridge after joining the club in July 2025. He has accumulated six appearances in the National League South during the current season, having previously earned nine caps for the England national team. The report also notes that scary to even think about and only a few people knew about it before now. The report also notes that me and Lou spent a lot of time discussing whether to mention it in this book or not. The report also notes that i avoided my publisher for so long that they probably suspected I got cold feet. The report also notes that scary to talk about but it’s made [me] the person I am today as much as any of the good stuff.
