Andy Carroll finally reveals the name of the man who assaulted him, hoping the court verdict will help him close a painful chapter.
In a rare and candid interview, former England international Andy Carroll disclosed that the man convicted of sexually assaulting him was Kevin Adams a dance coach who once appeared on the BBC’s early-2000s talent show Fame Academy. Carroll, now representing Dagenham & Redbridge after a career that included spells at Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham, said the revelation allows him to begin healing.
The assault took place at Carroll’s home during his second stint with Newcastle United. According to his autobiography Owning It: In My Own Words the incident occurred in 2019 when Adams arrived to watch a boxing session and subsequently stayed overnight.
Carroll wrote that he woke up to find Adams under the duvet, naked, and immediately forced him to leave before contacting police.
Legal outcome and judicial commentary
Kevin Adams, now 59, was found guilty of sexual assault at Chelmsford Crown Court in September 2023.
The court imposed a 20-month custodial sentence, added him to the sex offenders register, and barred him from entering Carroll’s village. Judge Mary Loram rebuked Adams’s defense, stating, “You spun a literally incredible tale in which you painted yourself as the victim,” and concluded that there was little hope for his rehabilitation.
Carroll’s personal impact and public statements
Carroll, who earned nine caps for England, described the assault as a trauma that still shadows his daily life. In his memoir he wrote, “What happened to me affected every facet of my life. I’d think about it every day, making it difficult to focus on anything else, including football,” adding that “the trauma of what happened to me hasn’t gone away.” In a recent interview he affirmed, “Now that Kevin Adams has been named in court documents as my abuser, I can confirm it. Hopefully now I can finally start to put this chapter behind me,” and pleaded for the public to stop circulating images of Adams.
Background on Kevin Adams and Fame Academy
Kevin Adams rose to visibility as a choreographer on Fame Academy which aired from 2002 to 2003 and was hosted by Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley. Following the show, he appeared on BBC spin-offs such as Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. Despite his entertainment credentials, the court case revealed a starkly different side of the man, leading to his conviction and registration as a sexual offender.
Carroll’s partner, Lou Teasdale, played a supportive role throughout the ordeal, discussing the decision to disclose the abuse and encouraging him to share his story. Carroll hopes that by speaking out, he might help others who have suffered similar violations, stating, “If talking about it helps just one person, then it will have been worth it.”
