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| Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson 'abused position in society' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson "abused his revered position in society" when he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old fan, a court has heard. | Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson "abused his revered position in society" when he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old fan, a court has heard. |
| The 28-year-old, who has 12 England caps, is on trial accused of sexual activity with a child. | |
| Prosecutors said it was "in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong". | Prosecutors said it was "in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong". |
| The footballer denies two charges of sexual activity with a girl under 16. | The footballer denies two charges of sexual activity with a girl under 16. |
| The alleged victim was 15 in December 2014 when Johnson was living with his then pregnant partner, Stacey Flounders, in Castle Eden, County Durham, Bradford Crown Court was told. | The alleged victim was 15 in December 2014 when Johnson was living with his then pregnant partner, Stacey Flounders, in Castle Eden, County Durham, Bradford Crown Court was told. |
| Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said the girl was a passionate Sunderland Football Club fan and Mr Johnson was her favourite player. | Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said the girl was a passionate Sunderland Football Club fan and Mr Johnson was her favourite player. |
| "After matches, she would hang around waiting for a glimpse of him, wanting to get a photograph, often sporting a Sunderland shirt with Johnson's name emblazoned across the back," she told the court. | "After matches, she would hang around waiting for a glimpse of him, wanting to get a photograph, often sporting a Sunderland shirt with Johnson's name emblazoned across the back," she told the court. |
| "What has brought the defendant to this courtroom is a sexual desire for (the girl), an excessive arrogance and an unwarranted level of expectation." | "What has brought the defendant to this courtroom is a sexual desire for (the girl), an excessive arrogance and an unwarranted level of expectation." |
| The jury of eight women and four men was told the girl had a picture on her Facebook page showing her "wearing her Sunderland shirt, standing in the car park of the Sunderland football ground with the defendant, his arm around her". | The jury of eight women and four men was told the girl had a picture on her Facebook page showing her "wearing her Sunderland shirt, standing in the car park of the Sunderland football ground with the defendant, his arm around her". |
| "She had one enormous crush on him," Miss Blackwell said. "He was her absolute hero. She idolised him." | "She had one enormous crush on him," Miss Blackwell said. "He was her absolute hero. She idolised him." |
| The girl made a Facebook friend request to the footballer just before New Year 2015. | The girl made a Facebook friend request to the footballer just before New Year 2015. |
| The jury was read a series of messages between the pair in which he arranged to meet her so he could sign a football shirt. | The jury was read a series of messages between the pair in which he arranged to meet her so he could sign a football shirt. |
| In them, the girl made it clear she was a Year 10 student and one month past her 15th birthday, saying everyone thought she looked older. | In them, the girl made it clear she was a Year 10 student and one month past her 15th birthday, saying everyone thought she looked older. |
| Mr Johnson, who was born in Sunderland, began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then on to Sunderland for £10m in 2012. | |
| The footballer has previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of grooming. | The footballer has previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of grooming. |
| The trial continues. |