Man denies attempted armed robbery of Andy Carroll’s Mercedes after Prem ace was ambushed by bikers on way home from West Ham training ground
Jack O’Brien, 22, appeared before Basildon Crown Court today accused of the attempted robbery of the Premier League striker
A MAN has denied an attempted car-jacking Andy Carroll as he returned home from training.
Jack O’Brien, 22, appeared before Basildon Crown Court today accused of the attempted robbery of the West Ham striker.
The defendant allegedly rode a motorbike as he ambushed Carroll, 27, in his £100,000 Mercedes G-Wagon as he approached a junction in Chigwell, Essex, on November 2.
O’Brien is said to have ordered Carroll to stop his car, but the 6ft 4in forward drove away.
He was later arrested.
The defendant, wearing an Adidas tracksuit, appeared in court today standing with his arms crossed.
He denied the charge relating to Andy Carroll, and also denied a string of burglary and attempted burglary charges at properties across Essex and Hertfordshire.
He denied a total of 16 other charges separate to the Carroll incident and faces trial before Basildon Crown Court next May.
He was remanded back into custody ahead of the trial which is anticipated to last up to 10 days.
A spokesman for West Ham said after the incident: “West Ham United can confirm an incident targeting one of our players on Wednesday 2 November.
“The matter is now being handled by the police.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers were called to reports of an attempted robbery at gunpoint in Chigwell at 12.45pm on November 2.
Geordie striker Carroll returned to the West Ham first team this week for the club’s 1-0 home win against Burnley.
It was his first appearance since getting injured earlier this season.
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