Video shows Andy Carroll's terrifying attempted robbery
The Premier League footballer was chased and threatened by gun-toting biker thieves
This is the dramatic motorcycle chase which resulted in an 11-year jail sentence for a would-be thief.
CCTV and dashcam footage show 23-year-old Jack O’Brein (circled in green) and an accomplice chasing Premier League footballer Andy Carroll’s olive-green Jeep Wrangler along Romford Road in Chigwell last November.
When Carroll stops at a set of traffic lights, one of the riders admires his £22,000 watch before demanding he hand it over. He then implies that he had a gun and attempts to block the Jeep as the 28-year-old footballer speeds away. The pair chase Carroll along Whalebone Lane North towards the A12 before abandoning the pursuit.
Following the incident, which took place shortly before 1pm on November 2, 2016, police were able to identify O’Brein thanks to his distinctive jacket and helmet.
He was found and arrested 10 days later and charged the following day. The second suspect remains outstanding.
The footage has been released by the MET police following O’Brein’s sentencing at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, 1 September.
In court, serial offender O'Brien, of Ivyhouse Road, Dagenham, denied attempted robbery but was found guilty by the 12-strong jury after more than 6 hours of deliberation.
He had previously pleaded guilty to five counts of residential burglary and three counts of attempted burglary in the Essex and Hertfordshire areas.
For the attempted robbery, he was handed six years imprisonment, and for the burglary offences, five years and three months imprisonment, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen, Senior Investigating Officer in the case, commented: "This was a welcome but entirely expected guilty verdict due to the compelling and overwhelming evidence against the defendant, Jack O'Brien. The moving footage of the vehicle chase shows the persistent and reckless lengths this man went to in order to try to steal a high value watch.
"I would like to thank the victim who showed great courage and calmness throughout this terrifying robbery attempt."
