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| Adam Johnson trial hears friend did not believe girl's claim of sexual encounter | Adam Johnson trial hears friend did not believe girl's claim of sexual encounter |
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| Footballer Adam Johnson would have to be “a bit of a paedophile” to go after a 15-year-old schoolgirl, a court has heard. | Footballer Adam Johnson would have to be “a bit of a paedophile” to go after a 15-year-old schoolgirl, a court has heard. |
| A teenager told jurors she initially did not believe her friend’s claims that she had had a sexual encounter with the former Sunderland star. But the girl told Bradford crown court the alleged victim showed her “about 20 messages” sent by the 28-year-old footballer. | |
| The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, said: “At first I thought: it’s definitely not Adam Johnson.” | The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, said: “At first I thought: it’s definitely not Adam Johnson.” |
| Kate Blackwell QC, prosecuting, asked the witness, giving evidence via a video link: “Why did you not think it was Adam Johnson?” | Kate Blackwell QC, prosecuting, asked the witness, giving evidence via a video link: “Why did you not think it was Adam Johnson?” |
| The girl replied: “Cos he’s, however old he is. And why would he? He’s a bit of a paedophile if he’s going for a 15 ... kids and that.” | The girl replied: “Cos he’s, however old he is. And why would he? He’s a bit of a paedophile if he’s going for a 15 ... kids and that.” |
| Johnson is accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child after an encounter with the girl in his black Range Rover on 30 January, four weeks after they linked up on Facebook. | Johnson is accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child after an encounter with the girl in his black Range Rover on 30 January, four weeks after they linked up on Facebook. |
| He has admitted grooming and sexual activity with the then 15-year-old, but denies two further counts. | He has admitted grooming and sexual activity with the then 15-year-old, but denies two further counts. |
| The court also heard that another friend told police that Johnson and the girl were swapping messages as the footballer’s girlfriend, Stacey Flounders, gave birth to their daughter, Ayla Sofia. | The court also heard that another friend told police that Johnson and the girl were swapping messages as the footballer’s girlfriend, Stacey Flounders, gave birth to their daughter, Ayla Sofia. |
| “They were talking at the time that Stacey had the baby because he was texting saying she had had the baby and what they were going to call it,” the friend said. | “They were talking at the time that Stacey had the baby because he was texting saying she had had the baby and what they were going to call it,” the friend said. |
| She said the girl told her of her second meeting and sexual activity with Johnson in his car. | She said the girl told her of her second meeting and sexual activity with Johnson in his car. |
| The witness said her friend also told her a third encounter was arranged after Johnson texted her while she was at school, asking: “Are you doing anything tonight?” | The witness said her friend also told her a third encounter was arranged after Johnson texted her while she was at school, asking: “Are you doing anything tonight?” |
| “She told us that she was going to have sex and sleep with him in his car,” the witness told the jury. | “She told us that she was going to have sex and sleep with him in his car,” the witness told the jury. |
| However, she said the planned meeting was cancelled because the footballer did not have an excuse for Flounders about why he was leaving the house. | However, she said the planned meeting was cancelled because the footballer did not have an excuse for Flounders about why he was leaving the house. |
| The alleged victim was “mad” at Johnson for cancelling the meeting, the witness said, but was also panicking as rumours spread about her alleged sexual encounter. | |
| “She was pretty distraught about it. Everyone was finding out so she was panicking and worrying. She wasn’t feeling her best,” the witness said. | “She was pretty distraught about it. Everyone was finding out so she was panicking and worrying. She wasn’t feeling her best,” the witness said. |
| Johnson denies two counts of sexual activity with a child that allegedly took place in his black Range Rover behind a Chinese takeaway in County Durham on 30 December. | Johnson denies two counts of sexual activity with a child that allegedly took place in his black Range Rover behind a Chinese takeaway in County Durham on 30 December. |
| The court has heard that Johnson texted the girl saying “you owe me” and asked for a “thank you kiss” after he gave her a signed Sunderland shirt. | |
| After the alleged sexual activity on 30 January, Johnson allegedly messaged the teenager to say “can’t wait to get ya jeans off lol” and asked her to send him explicit pictures on Snapchat. | After the alleged sexual activity on 30 January, Johnson allegedly messaged the teenager to say “can’t wait to get ya jeans off lol” and asked her to send him explicit pictures on Snapchat. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |