English Premiership
Andy Carroll victim of arson
2010-10-21 17:27
London - Newcastle striker Andy Carroll had his new car torched outside the home of team-mate Kevin Nolan just three days after a court appearance on assault charges.
Police said they were called on Wednesday after Carroll and Nolan saw the forward's chrome-plated Range Rover on fire on the drive.
A garage door was also daubed with graffiti but no-one was hurt in the arson attack.
Carroll bought the car after being handed a new five-year contract and it was packed with high-tech gadgets including a games console in the backseats.
England Under-21 striker Carroll was this week ordered by the court to live with Newcastle captain Nolan on an exclusive estate, Darras Hall, after being charged with assaulting his 18-year-old former girlfriend Laurie Henderson on October 17.
He was bailed until a further hearing in January and the court was told he would claim self-defence.
A Northumbria police spokesperson confirmed the car fire and said: "Police received a report from the fire and rescue service of a fire outside an address in Darras Hall.
"Officers attended and a Range Rover was found to be on fire. The fire was extinguished by the fire and rescue service and no-one was injured.
"The garage door of the property was also vandalised. Inquiries into the incident are ongoing and police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them."
A spokesperson for Newcastle said the club would not comment as the incident was being investigated by the police.