Former 37-year-old footballer Andy Carroll has named former BBC Fame Academy coach Kevin Adams as the man who he was sexually assaulted by, breaking his silence on the identity of his attacker in a shocking revelation bringing renewed attention to a deeply traumatic experience he has previously spoken about.

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The ex-England striker, who previously detailed the traumatic incident in his autobiography, has now spoken out following Adams being named in court documents. Carroll revealed the identity of his attacker after Adams was named in publicly available court documents.

Speaking about the revelation, Carroll confirmed:

"Now that Kevin Adams has been named in court documents as my abuser, I can confirm it."

He also expressed hope that speaking publicly about the incident would allow him to finally put that chapter of his life behind him.

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The incident reportedly took place in 2019, during Carroll's second spell at Newcastle United. According to his account in the autobiography, Adams visited his home under the pretence of watching a boxing match before staying overnight. Carroll recalled beginning to feel uncomfortable and light-headed during the evening, questioning whether something had been put in his drink. After going to bed, he later woke up to find Adams sexually assaulting him. The footballer described immediately confronting Adams, punching him and ordering him out of the property before contacting the police.

Adams, who was 59 at the time of the latest reports, was subsequently convicted of sexual assault at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2023 and sentenced to 20 months in prison. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Reflecting on the lasting impact of the assault, Carroll has spoken about how the experience affected his personal life, relationships and football career. He previously described the trauma as something that had affected every aspect of his life, explaining that thoughts about the incident made it difficult to concentrate on football and everyday activities. By choosing to publicly identify his attacker, Carroll has brought further attention to his experience and the wider conversation surrounding male survivors of sexual assault.

Adams was previously known for his work on the BBC talent show Fame Academy, where he appeared as a dance coach and choreographer. He also featured on other BBC programmes, including Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.