- Former England international Andy Carroll revealed in his autobiography “Owning It” that he was sexually assaulted in his home in 2019.
- Carroll has publicly identified his assailant as television choreographer and dance teacher Kevin Adams following the release of court records.
- Adams was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2023, receiving a prison sentence and being placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Former England international footballer Andy Carroll, who became Liverpool’s most expensive signing in history when he joined the club in 2011, has publicly revealed that he was sexually assaulted in 2019 while sleeping at his home. Writing candidly in his autobiography titled “Owning It,” the striker recounted waking up after an acquaintance stayed over following a boxing match, only to discover the man attempting to perform a sexual act on him.
Andy Carroll Details 2019 Assault in Autobiography
The 37-year-old forward, who earned nine caps representing England and now serves as a player and co-owner of sixth-tier side Dagenham & Redbridge, shared the profound personal toll the incident took on his mental health and his professional playing career. Carroll addressed the difficulty of bringing the traumatic memory to light after keeping it private for years.
I was sexually assaulted. It is frightening even to think about it, and only a few people knew until now
Explaining his decision to include the revelation in his memoir, Carroll noted: “I was sexually assaulted. It’s frightening even to think about it, and only a few people knew until now. Lou (his current partner) and I spent a lot of time discussing whether we should mention it in this book or not. I avoided my editor for so long that they probably suspected I had chickened out… It’s scary to talk about it, but it has made me the person I am today as much as any other good thing. And if by talking about it I manage to help even just one person, well, it will have been worth it,”
he confesses.
Carroll also elaborated on the enduring psychological impact of the incident: “What happened to me affected every aspect of my life. I thought about it daily, which made it hard for me to concentrate on anything else… including football. The trauma has not gone away,”
commented the 37-year-old footballer.
Public Confirmation of Assailant Kevin Adams
Andy Carroll: “Kevin Adams has been identified in court documents as my attacker”
Several weeks after initial details emerged from his book, Carroll confirmed to The Sun on Sunday the identity of the convicted attacker after the individual was listed in publicly accessible legal records. ‘Andy Carroll’s sexual abuser (37 years old) in 2019 was Kevin Adams, a famous choreographer and dance instructor who appeared on the BBC’s “Fame Academy” and “Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two”, and who was convicted by Chelmsford Crown Court in 2023.’
Following a legal investigation into the reported sexual assault, Adams was handed a three-year prison sentence. Before entering prison for a period of 20 months, Adams ran a children’s dance school, the Kevin Adams Academy in Harlow (Essex). In addition to custodial sentencing, Adams was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and issued a ban preventing him from entering the town where Carroll resides.
‘After recently learning that Adams’ name appeared in publicly accessible court documents, Carroll confirmed to the newspaper “The Sun” that the famous 59-year-old dance teacher was the perpetrator of his sexual assault.’
I am ready to move on. This had a devastating impact on my life and the lives of my loved ones
“Now that Kevin Adams has been named in court documents as my attacker, I can confirm it. I hope I can finally start to leave this chapter behind. I’m ready to move on. This had a devastating impact on my life and on that of my loved ones,”
clarified the popular centre-forward.
Why This Matters
Andy Carroll’s decision to speak out addresses the significant stigma surrounding male victims of sexual assault, particularly within high-profile athletic environments. By documenting the sustained impact on his mental wellbeing and daily athletic focus, Carroll’s public disclosure emphasizes the long-term consequences of trauma regardless of public stature. Furthermore, naming the convicted offender following the unsealing of legal proceedings concludes a protracted legal journey that saw Adams sentenced, registered as a sex offender, and legally barred from Carroll’s local community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was convicted of sexually assaulting Andy Carroll?
Kevin Adams, a 59-year-old dance instructor and choreographer known for television appearances on BBC programs such as Fame Academy and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2023 for the 2019 assault.
What legal penalties did Kevin Adams receive?
Adams received a three-year prison sentence, serving 20 months in custody before release. He was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and received an exclusion order barring him from entering the town where Carroll lives.
Where did Andy Carroll first publicly disclose the assault?
Carroll first disclosed the assault in his autobiography, “Owning It,” detailing how the incident occurred while he was asleep at home following a boxing match screening, before later confirming Adams’ identity to the press once court documents became public.
