Prem star Carroll: 2 motorbikes are after me... one’s pulling out a gun

He tells jury of robbery drama

FOOTBALLER Andy Carroll yesterday told a court how he drove off in terror fearing an armed biker was trying to rob his £22,000 watch.

The striker was returning from training with West Ham when the man pulled alongside at traffic lights and said: “Nice watch.”

Carroll, 28, said “thanks”, but the man in the crash helmet allegedly demanded the bling before pointing what the star believed might be a gun.

The England striker told the jury: “There was another motorbike behind. I started driving off and he was like pulling in front and I didn’t know whether it was a prank. I did a U-turn to see if they’d follow.

“While driving back to the training ground, the bike was in front and gave signals for the watch and he pulled out something from his waistband and started pointing it towards me.

“He was wearing a glove and I thought he was holding a gun.

“I was scared, I didn’t know what to do... I was just panicked.”

Jack O’Brien, 22, denies attempted robbery last November in Hainault, North East London. Carroll, wearing jeans and a dark shirt at Basildon crown court, Essex, briefly glanced at the defendant while giving evidence.

The star drove his Jeep Wrangler on the wrong side of the road, hit several vehicles and jumped a red light during the chase. His 999 call was played to the jury of six men and six women, along with a driver’s dash cam footage.

Prosecutor Simon Gladwell told the jury it was unclear if the motorcyclist had a pistol.

He said: “Mr Carroll couldn’t tell whether the rider had a gun or it was just his fingers.”

Michael Edmonds, for the defence, said O’Brien, of Romford, East London, was not one of the robbers. A bike used in the chase, helmet and leathers were found at his home, the court heard.

But Mr Edmonds said that although his client had used them all for crime before, it was not him using the motorbike on this occasion. The trial continues.