Image Credit: Nigel Roddis / Getty Images
Disturbing details from the Adam Johnson trial have been revealed, highlighting how the former Sunderland player and England international groomed the 15-year-old girl he was found guilty of having sexual activity with.
The details from the court room were noted by journalist Josh Halliday, with the prosecutor telling the court that Johnson had decided to “act in a way he knew was both morally and legally wrong.” The court heard that the 15-year-old was a Sunderland season ticket holder and a “massive fan of Johnson”, with her waiting after games in order to have a photo taken with him. The prosecutor stated that she sent him a Facebook friend request, with Johnson accepting before asking for her mobile number.
The court heard that Johnson and the girl started talking on WhatsApp, after Johnson proved who he was by posting “Happy New Year” on Twitter. He asked her to delete all contact with him, but she hadn’t done so.
Johnson asked the girl what year of school she was in, to which she replied “Year 10,” adding: “Will you still send me a signed shirt?” Johnson asked her when she would turn 16 on New Year’s Eve 2014, and she told him that her birthday was in November. Johnson asked the girl: “Where do you go out?” to which she replied: “I’m not old enough to go out.” Johnson replied: “Yeah but you look old enough.”
Johnson asked the girl what time he should meet her in order to sign the Sunderland shirt for her, and then asked her if she’d sit in his car, adding: “Though you might be too shy to sit in.” Johnson added: “It will defo have to be dark.”
Adam Johnson arriving at Bradford Crown Court with girlfriend Stacey Flounders. (Image Credit: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images)
They first met on January 17th, 2015, 18 days after the initial text was sent, meeting behind a Chinese takeaway restaurant in County Durham. She got in his black Range Rover, before he signed her shirt and they “talked football.” Johnson would later drop her off at her friend’s house, with the girl texting him to thank him for signing the shirt. “No problems. You owe me lol”, he replied, adding: “Thought I would’ve got a thank you kiss for the shirt.” They discussed meeting again.
On January 27th, the girl text Johnson to say that she still needed to thank him for the shirt, to which Johnson replied: “Am I only getting a kiss?” The girl responded: “Depends what else you’re after?” Johnson continued: “Depends what you’re up for – a little bit more than a kiss.”
On December 10th Johnson and the girl met up again behind the same Chinese takeaway restaurant, with sexual activity taking place. “Wasn’t bad was it? Lol” Johnson text the girl after the meeting, adding: “Was class. Just wanted to get ya jeans off lol”. The girl responded: “Next time haha.” Johnson replied: “I will last 10 seconds tho lol”.
The girl later asked Johnson to download Snapchat, with him telling her that he was “looking forward to a naughty Snapchat there”. He set up a new account so that his girlfriend, Stacey Flounders, wouldn’t see that she was listed in his top friends. Johnson searched the Internet for “legal age of consent” days after engaging in sexual activity with the girl.
Johnson was charged with sexual activity with a child along with child grooming, with Sunderland promptly sacking him from his position in the club. Johnson has denied two more charges leveled against him.
