Carroll escorted from training ground by police

Andy Carroll was whisked from West Ham ‘s training ground at Rush Green 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 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 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 hand over his watch as he drove his green Jeep Wrangler home from training.

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

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

Mr Gladwell said police seized a crash helmet and Ducati jacket at the east London property and a Suzuki motorbike was seized from the back garden. “The motorcycle used in the alleged attempted robbery was the same motorcycle that was seized at the time of Jack O’Brien’s arrest,” he added.