Confronted and threatened by two motorcyclists brandishing a gun demanding his watch, Andy Carroll turned and drove at speed clipping other cars as he headed for the sanctuary of West Ham United’s Rush Green training ground.
In the cold light of day, Carroll could be forgiven for seeing that harrowing moment as a metaphor for his life: it doesn’t matter how hard or fast he tries to escape it, trouble is never far behind.
‘When you are 6ft 5in, got long hair and play Premier League football, you are an easy target,’ his team-mate and mentor Kevin Nolan once said.