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Adam Johnson's arrogance led to child sexual assault, court told Adam Johnson's arrogance led to child sexual assault, court told
(35 minutes later)
The England footballer Adam Johnson “abused his revered position in society” when he sexually touched a 15-year-old schoolgirl in his car after giving her a signed football shirt, a court has heard.The England footballer Adam Johnson “abused his revered position in society” when he sexually touched a 15-year-old schoolgirl in his car after giving her a signed football shirt, a court has heard.
The midfielder, 28, knew the girl had only just turned 15 when he arranged to meet her behind a Chinese takeaway in County Durham last January, jurors were told on Friday.The midfielder, 28, knew the girl had only just turned 15 when he arranged to meet her behind a Chinese takeaway in County Durham last January, jurors were told on Friday.
Kate Blackwell QC, prosecuting, said Johnson showed “excessive arrogance” after sexually touching the teenager, a devout Sunderland fan who “idolised” the star.Kate Blackwell QC, prosecuting, said Johnson showed “excessive arrogance” after sexually touching the teenager, a devout Sunderland fan who “idolised” the star.
The girl, who cannot be named, regularly waited outside the club’s stadium for a picture with Johnson and wore his name on her shirt, the court heard.The girl, who cannot be named, regularly waited outside the club’s stadium for a picture with Johnson and wore his name on her shirt, the court heard.
The footballer has admitted one count of grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child but denies two further sexual offence allegations. The £60,000-a-week midfielder, capped 12 times for England, was sacked on Thursday night by Sunderland AFC and dropped by his sponsor Adidas after admitting two child sexual assault charges.The footballer has admitted one count of grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child but denies two further sexual offence allegations. The £60,000-a-week midfielder, capped 12 times for England, was sacked on Thursday night by Sunderland AFC and dropped by his sponsor Adidas after admitting two child sexual assault charges.
On the first day of his trial at Bradford crown court, jurors were told that Johnson arranged to meet the schoolgirl in his black Range Rover behind Happy Valley takeaway to engage in sexual activity weeks after they became friends on Facebook.On the first day of his trial at Bradford crown court, jurors were told that Johnson arranged to meet the schoolgirl in his black Range Rover behind Happy Valley takeaway to engage in sexual activity weeks after they became friends on Facebook.
Blackwell said: “What has brought the defendant to this courtroom is a sexual desire for [the complainant], an excessive arrogance and an unwarranted level of expectation. He has abused his revered position in society and, having met this 15-year-old girl at Sunderland Football Club and on social media, and knowing that she looked up to him, made a conscious decision to act in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong.”Blackwell said: “What has brought the defendant to this courtroom is a sexual desire for [the complainant], an excessive arrogance and an unwarranted level of expectation. He has abused his revered position in society and, having met this 15-year-old girl at Sunderland Football Club and on social media, and knowing that she looked up to him, made a conscious decision to act in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong.”
Johnson was on his way to the team hotel before Sunderland AFC’s home game against Burnley when the encounter allegedly took place on 30 January last year. His long-term partner, Stacey Flounders, was pregnant at the time, jurors were told.Johnson was on his way to the team hotel before Sunderland AFC’s home game against Burnley when the encounter allegedly took place on 30 January last year. His long-term partner, Stacey Flounders, was pregnant at the time, jurors were told.
Within hours of the pair texting on New Year’s Eve 2014, jurors were told that Johnson asked the girl: “Are you in the last year of school?”Within hours of the pair texting on New Year’s Eve 2014, jurors were told that Johnson asked the girl: “Are you in the last year of school?”
She replied: “Year 10. Will you still send me a signed shirt?”She replied: “Year 10. Will you still send me a signed shirt?”
Johnson then arranged to meet the girl to give her a signed Sunderland shirt, jurors heard, and asked as the conversation went on: “Where do you go out?”Johnson then arranged to meet the girl to give her a signed Sunderland shirt, jurors heard, and asked as the conversation went on: “Where do you go out?”
She replied: “I’m not old enough to go out.”She replied: “I’m not old enough to go out.”
He said: “Yeah but you look old enough. When you 16?”He said: “Yeah but you look old enough. When you 16?”
She answered: “Everyone says that. November.”She answered: “Everyone says that. November.”
On 30 January, the pair met again. After getting into Johnson’s car, the pair spoke about football and the girl is said to have secretly recorded some of their conversation on Snapchat to prove to her friends she was in his car.
After a short conversation, Johnson allegedly reminded the girl he had come for his “thank you kiss” for giving her a signed shirt.
“What happened in that car on that evening is for you to decide,” Blackwell told the jury. “The crown’s case is that sexual activity took place.”
Johnson allegedly later asked the girl to show him a more secluded area “for when they met the next time”. He then drove to a remote area facing a football pitch and continued the sexual activity, Blackwell said, stopping a short time later when the girl began to feel “uncomfortable and awkward about where it may end”.
Within hours of the alleged sexual encounter, Johnson is said to have sent a message to the girl saying: “Wasn’t bad was it? Lol”. She replied: “No haha”. He continued: “Haha think we need to go in the back next time lol”. She said: “Haha yeah”.
The court heard that Johnson said he felt the meeting had been “worth it”, adding: “It was class. Just wanted to get ya jeans off lol ... Next time defo. I will last 10 seconds though lol.”