Andy Carroll attempted robbery: Man found guilty of targeting Premier League striker in drive-by heist

Sebastian Mann1 September 2017
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A serial thief has been convicted of attempting to rob Premier League striker Andy Carroll of his £22,000 wristwatch as he drove home from West Ham’s training ground.

Motorbike-riding Jack O'Brien, 22, swooped on the England player's Jeep Wrangler in a drive-by heist near Hainault, north-east London, last year.

Carroll told the trial he believed O'Brien had a gun when he pulled alongside him at a set of traffic lights and demanded the expensive timepiece on November 2.

The 28-year-old was then pursued by two suspects on motorbikes as he tried to escape, forcing him onto the wrong side of the road as he drove back to the training ground, which had security staff.

Convicted burglar O'Brien, of Navarre Gardens, Romford, was found guilty of attempted robbery by a jury of six men and six women after six hours and 25 minutes of deliberations at Basildon Crown Court.

Convicted: Jack O'Brien
Metropolitan Police

The defendant, who wore an untucked white shirt with a pink tie, showed no emotion as the verdict was read out.

Judge John Lodge is expected to sentence O'Brien on Friday morning for both his attempt on Carroll and a string of other offences.

The defendant was found hiding below a mattress at a property in Dagenham when police went to arrest him 10 days after the botched robbery.

The 6ft 4in striker told the court he had been "scared" when the motorcycle driver approached his camouflage green vehicle and said: "Nice watch."

He had initially thought the rider, who was wearing a crash helmet with a visor up, was boxer Kevin Mitchell pulling up for a chat.

But as he went to drive off, the man said: "Give me your watch."

Carroll told the court he then did a U-turn, but was pursued by two motorbike drivers.

In a panicked 999 call played to the jury, Carroll told emergency responders: "There's two motorbikes, one's behind me pulling out a gun, I don't know what to do."

He added that he had "probably just hit about 10 cars" during his getaway.

No firearm was found by police and the second driver has not been located

O'Brien claimed he was not the biker in question and, while he had used the motorbike gear for other crimes, he had not on that occasion.

His account was rejected by jurors.

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