Carroll returns to give evidence

PREMIER League footballer Andy Carroll was whisked from West Ham’s training ground back to court – after a last-minute request for him to give further evidence in the trial of a man accused of trying to rob him of his £22,000 watch.

Police escorted the 6ft 4in striker from the club’s training ground to Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on the eve of transfer deadline day.

The unexpected move came a day after the star footballer gave his main evidence in person at Basildon Crown Court.

Carroll then told Basildon Crown Court that a male motorcyclist, who he believed had a gun, demanded he handed over his watch as he drove his green Jeep Wrangler home from training.

Jack O’Brien, 22, denies attempting to rob the England-capped 28-year-old on November 2, 2016.

Carroll appeared yesterday by video-link from Barkingside Magistrates’ Court.

Defence barrister Michael Edmonds told the footballer: “Thanks very much for coming back to court. I only have a few additional questions for you.”

Asked about the light conditions when Carroll said he glimpsed the biker’s face for 10 seconds, Carroll said: “I don’t remember the sunlight. I just remember seeing his face.”

Mr Edmonds asked if Carroll recalled being told that O’Brien had been arrested before a police identity parade, and Carroll replied: “Not really.”

“You have on Twitter 313,000 followers, is that right?” said Mr Edmonds.

Carroll, with his hair tied back and wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans, replied: “I’ve deleted my Facebook and Twitter so I don’t know, as I haven’t been on it for about eight months.”

Prosecutor Simon Gladwell said police arrested O’Brien at a house in Dagenham, east London, 10 days after the alleged attempted robbery, where they found him in the front bedroom “hiding in the bedframe under the mattress”.

A crash helmet and Ducati jacket were seized from the property, and a Suzuki motorbike was seized from the back garden.

Mr Gladwell said the three items used in the alleged attempted robbery were the same as those seized at the time of O’Brien’s arrest.

Mr Gladwell said the three items were also used by O’Brien in a string of burglaries, to which O’Brien pleaded guilty in April 2017, in which items including jewellery, watches and cash were stolen.

The offences happened in October and November 2016. O’Brien declined to give evidence in person. The trial continues.