Andy Carroll names Fame Academy star Kevin Adams as man who sexually abused him

Former England striker Andy Carroll has publicly identified a former BBC Fame Academy choreographer as the man convicted of sexually assaulting him, saying he hopes he can now "start to put this chapter behind me".

The 37-year-old footballer revealed details of the incident in his recently published autobiography, Owning It, but did not name the perpetrator at the time.

The man was later identified in court records as Kevin Adams, a dance coach who appeared on the BBC talent show Fame Academy.

Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Carroll said: "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."

He added: "This had a devastating impact on my life and my loved ones."

In his autobiography, Carroll described how the incident occurred in 2019 during his second spell at Newcastle United. He wrote that Adams had joined him at his home to watch boxing before later staying overnight.

The former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker said he awoke to find the man sexually assaulting him before ordering him to leave and contacting police.

Adams, now 59, was convicted of sexual assault and jailed for 20 months at Chelmsford Crown Court in September 2023.

During sentencing, Judge Mary Loram criticised Adams's account of events, telling him: "You spun a literally incredible tale in which you painted yourself as the victim."

The judge concluded there was little prospect of rehabilitation and imposed an immediate custodial sentence. Adams was also placed on the sex offenders register.

Carroll, who won nine caps for England and now plays for Dagenham & Redbridge, writes in his memoir that the incident had a lasting effect on his life and career.

"What happened to me affected every facet of my life," he wrote. "I'd think about it every day, making it difficult to focus on anything else, including football.

"The trauma of what happened to me hasn't gone away."

Fame Academy ran on the BBC between 2002 and 2003 and was presented by Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley. Adams appeared on the programme as a choreographer and dance coach, and later featured on BBC spin-off programmes including Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.