Former England and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has formally entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of breaching a non-molestation order and is due to stand trial next year.
The 37-year-old is accused of repeatedly calling his reality TV star ex-wife Billi Mucklow, who has featured on hit show The Only Way Is Essex.
A trial date of 18 January 2027 was set at a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday and Mr Carroll formally entered his not guilty plea on Wednesday.
Mr Carroll did not attend Tuesday’s hearing, as those representing him believed the hearing was taking place on Wednesday.
As a result, the judge adjourned Mr Carroll’s arraignment by one day until Wednesday when he entered his plea.
The ex-Newcastle forward attended Wednesday’s hearing by video link, wearing a checked shirt and apparently sat inside a parked car.
He is charged with breaching an order made by the family court at Chelmsford Justice Centre by allegedly repeatedly calling in March last year his ex-wife Ms Mucklow “without reasonable excuse”.
Mr Carroll answered “yes” to confirm his name and said “not guilty” when asked for his plea.
Prosecutor Philippa Page said there had been “some mix-up regarding the dates for the plea and trial preparation hearing, so Mr Carroll and his legal team didn’t appear yesterday”.
After Carroll formally entered his plea, Judge Mary Loram KC told him: “I’m adjourning your case for trial on January 18 next year.”
Carroll, who currently plays for National League South club Dagenham & Redbridge, played nine matches for England between 2010 and 2012, scoring twice, including one goal at Euro 2012.
He began his professional career with Newcastle before transferring to Liverpool for £35m in 2011, later playing for West Ham, Reading and West Brom among other teams.
The judge granted Carroll bail and at the end of the hearing he said “thank you, thanks”.
