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Adam Johnson trial hears girl felt compelled to perform sex act | Adam Johnson trial hears girl felt compelled to perform sex act |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The schoolgirl groomed by Adam Johnson wept as she told police she felt “compelled” to perform a sex act on the former Sunderland footballer even though she knew it was wrong, a court heard. | |
The 15-year-old broke down as she told jurors she wanted to protect her idol from police when rumours circulated about their alleged sexual encounter. | |
In a tearful police interview played to the jury at Bradford crown court on Monday, the teenager said she performed a sex act on Johnson, 28, “because I didn’t know what his reaction would be if I didn’t”. | |
The teenager – still wearing her school uniform – told the police officer in April last year that Johnson had texted her to say “you owe me for this” after giving her a signed Sunderland football shirt. | |
The girl, who cannot be named, described how she felt “awkward” when Johnson allegedly kept trying to place her hand on his penis while they kissed in his car. | |
“He put my hand on his trousers then put my hand back down there [his trousers] so I felt a bit awkward if I pulled my hand back. I just sort of felt compelled to do it in a way because he took his trousers down … It’s hard because I can’t remember how it started – I just tried to forget about it,” she told a detective. | |
The schoolgirl described how she performed a sex act on Johnson “for a couple of seconds” before stopping when the footballer allegedly said “if I kept going he’d have to have sex with me”. | The schoolgirl described how she performed a sex act on Johnson “for a couple of seconds” before stopping when the footballer allegedly said “if I kept going he’d have to have sex with me”. |
She claimed she did not know whether to perform a sex act on Johnson or not but did it “because I didn’t know what his reaction would be if I didn’t”. The girl alleged the sex act was Johnson’s idea “because he sort of put his hand on my back, not forcing but gradually pushing forward a bit”. | She claimed she did not know whether to perform a sex act on Johnson or not but did it “because I didn’t know what his reaction would be if I didn’t”. The girl alleged the sex act was Johnson’s idea “because he sort of put his hand on my back, not forcing but gradually pushing forward a bit”. |
Asked how she felt after the alleged sex act, the teenager wiped away tears and said: “Not very good. Like … I don’t know. I was disappointed in myself.” | |
The trial was halted mid-way through the girl’s evidence when she wept uncontrollably while explaining how she lied to try keep Johnson out of trouble. | |
Under cross-examination by Johnson’s counsel, Orlando Pownall QC, the girl admitted asking friends not to disclose to police that she had performed oral sex on the footballer, the jury heard. | |
“When the rumours had got round school what had happened with Adam Johnson, not the full story had got out and I wanted to keep him out of trouble,” she said in tears. | |
“I was worried there wasn’t any evidence there on the texts. I was worried people wouldn’t believe me.” | |
Sobbing, the girl said she was lying “to protect somebody else not protect myself”. She added before breaking down in tears: “At that time I didn’t realise it was wrong and what had gone on was wrong.” | |
The judge, Anthony Rose, ordered a 10-minute break in proceedings while the girl struggled to compose herself. | |
Rumours about the alleged sexual encounter started circulating among the girl’s schoolfriends just days after her meeting with Johnson, the court heard. | |
Pownall suggested that the girl asked friends to give police a partial picture about what had happened when the rumours “spiralled out of control”. | |
The girl sobbed: “It was concern because I didn’t want him to lose his career or anything. I wasn’t bothered about myself at all … I was trying to protect him so he didn’t lose everything.” | |
Earlier, jurors heard the girl’s first police interview in which she described how she felt shocked and worried after allegedly being groped by the footballer. | Earlier, jurors heard the girl’s first police interview in which she described how she felt shocked and worried after allegedly being groped by the footballer. |
The girl described how she avoided meeting up again with the then-Sunderland player because she “knew it was wrong”. However, she said she was reluctant to go to the police. | |
Of the alleged sexual activity on 30 January last year, she told the police officer: “I would say I was a bit shocked. As much as I was expecting it to happen I was still shocked it was. I was a bit worried because I knew I had done something wrong. It wasn’t that I didn’t want … it’s just I knew it was wrong. I’m not one for being able to hold guilt.” | Of the alleged sexual activity on 30 January last year, she told the police officer: “I would say I was a bit shocked. As much as I was expecting it to happen I was still shocked it was. I was a bit worried because I knew I had done something wrong. It wasn’t that I didn’t want … it’s just I knew it was wrong. I’m not one for being able to hold guilt.” |
The court heard that the girl, who “idolised” the footballer, added: “I didn’t want anything to be done about it – I just wanted to drop it, but my mum said what he’s done is wrong.” | The court heard that the girl, who “idolised” the footballer, added: “I didn’t want anything to be done about it – I just wanted to drop it, but my mum said what he’s done is wrong.” |
The schoolgirl was interviewed at Durham police station, with the footage shown in court during the second day of the trial. | The schoolgirl was interviewed at Durham police station, with the footage shown in court during the second day of the trial. |
She claimed the relationship started when she sent a friend request on Facebook to Johnson “who I’ve idolised for a long time so it was surreal”. Johnson accepted her request later the same day, the court heard, and they later exchanged mobile numbers. | She claimed the relationship started when she sent a friend request on Facebook to Johnson “who I’ve idolised for a long time so it was surreal”. Johnson accepted her request later the same day, the court heard, and they later exchanged mobile numbers. |
The girl told police Johnson knew her age, what school she went to, that she was a Sunderland season-ticket holder and even where she sat at the Stadium of Light, the jury heard. | The girl told police Johnson knew her age, what school she went to, that she was a Sunderland season-ticket holder and even where she sat at the Stadium of Light, the jury heard. |
She described what is alleged to have happened when the two met behind the Chinese takeaway – weeks after he accepted her friend request. “I was kissing him for quite a while. Then he undid my button on my trousers and my zip and it took him quite a while to do that. He put his hand down my trousers and started, like, putting his hands in my knickers,” she claimed. | She described what is alleged to have happened when the two met behind the Chinese takeaway – weeks after he accepted her friend request. “I was kissing him for quite a while. Then he undid my button on my trousers and my zip and it took him quite a while to do that. He put his hand down my trousers and started, like, putting his hands in my knickers,” she claimed. |
“That went on for quite a while. Then he stopped for a bit then he put his hand down again. Then he started to put my hand down his trousers, but I put my hand back a bit but then he put my hand back on over this trousers. | “That went on for quite a while. Then he stopped for a bit then he put his hand down again. Then he started to put my hand down his trousers, but I put my hand back a bit but then he put my hand back on over this trousers. |
“I said ‘haven’t you got to go’ because it was nearly six – it was after the time he said he had to go – and I tried to bring it to an end because it was getting slightly awkward and stuff.” | |
She described how Johnson sent her further texts on WhatsApp after the alleged sexual encounter, wanting to meet up again. | She described how Johnson sent her further texts on WhatsApp after the alleged sexual encounter, wanting to meet up again. |
“He sent me more messages offering to meet up and asked to meet the next day, but I was with friends. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but I was a bit hesitant because I knew it was wrong. I just said I was going out for a meal. Then everyone started to find out about it,” the girl told police. | “He sent me more messages offering to meet up and asked to meet the next day, but I was with friends. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but I was a bit hesitant because I knew it was wrong. I just said I was going out for a meal. Then everyone started to find out about it,” the girl told police. |
She described how she “broke down” and confided in her parents when schoolfriends learned about her and Johnson. She was taken to a police station by her mother and a family friend, the jury heard. | She described how she “broke down” and confided in her parents when schoolfriends learned about her and Johnson. She was taken to a police station by her mother and a family friend, the jury heard. |
The court has already heard allegations that Johnson knew the girl was 15 within hours of them exchanging messages on New Year’s Eve 2014. | The court has already heard allegations that Johnson knew the girl was 15 within hours of them exchanging messages on New Year’s Eve 2014. |
Days after the alleged sexual touching, Johnson is said to have searched the internet for “legal age of consent”. | Days after the alleged sexual touching, Johnson is said to have searched the internet for “legal age of consent”. |
Johnson denies two counts of sexual activity with a child. He has pleaded guilty to grooming and one count of sexual activity with the 15-year-old. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |