A man who tried to steal a watch from West Ham United's Andy Carroll has been jailed for six years.
The West Ham bench-warmer was driving home from a training session last November when his car was approached by two motorcyclists at a set of traffic lights, one of whom demanded Carroll hand over his watch, which was valued at £22,000.
Video evidence showing Carroll's vehicle being pursued by robbers
The striker, who believed one of his attackers was wielding a firearm hot-footed it back to the club's training ground in Chadwell Heath with the two bikers hot in pursuit, but was able to reach safety.
During proceedings, a tape of the 999 call made by Carroll was played back in court; in it, the 28-year-old stated: "There's two motorbikes, one's behind me pulling out a gun, I don't know what to do."
Carroll also admitted to hitting several other vehicles as he attempted to flee from his attackers, often driving on the wrong side of the road.
Jack O'Brien was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for the attempted robbery
The accused, 22-year-old Jack O'Brien from Romford tried to deny he was involved in the incident, despite his DNA being found on the helmet and jacket used in the botched robbery.
He was jailed for six years following trial at Basildon Crown Court, to run concurrently with sentences for further robberies that took place in 2016. The second rider has never been found.
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