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Adam Johnson trial: Player 'felt stupid' for kissing girl | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson told police he was "stupid" to kiss a 15-year-old girl and "should have known better", a court has heard. | |
In an interview after his arrest, the 28-year-old England international admitted kissing the girl, but denied more serious sexual contact. | |
A jury at Bradford Crown Court heard Mr Johnson told officers he "knew it was wrong" and that he "had a girlfriend". | |
He denies two counts of sexual activity with a child. | |
In the interview, conducted after his arrest at his County Durham home, Johnson admitted exchanging messages with the girl on social media before meeting her to sign football shirts. | |
He also admitted kissing her at a second meeting on 30 January last year, but denied it was passionate and repeatedly denied more serious sexual conduct. | |
Mr Johnson told detectives: "I knew it was wrong. I have a girlfriend for one. Lots of reasons. I've got a family, a career. | |
"I said to myself 'it was poor ... I should have known better'." | |
'I just panicked' | |
During the interview, the player denied undoing the teenager's jeans or touching her intimately, adding: "I did not touch her down her pants or anything like that." | |
Johnson agreed he met the girl after they had talked on WhatsApp about a "thank you kiss" for him signing the shirts. | |
He added: "She came into the car and she said about a thank you kiss. It was just like a normal kiss. Just how you would kiss someone." | |
The interviewing officer, Det Con Kimberley Walton, asked the footballer why, when he was arrested, he told his girlfriend, Stacey Flounders, the teenager told him she was 16. | |
Johnson said he was trying to keep the truth from Miss Flounders and he was not trying to deceive the police. | |
He said: "It was more between me and her. I didn't want to go back home and she'd taken my daughter and didn't give me a chance to explain myself. | |
"I sort of just panicked. I wasn't going to keep it from you (the police)." | |
Earlier, Mr Johnson admitted he had created a new Snapchat account to talk to the teenager, who cannot be named, so Miss Flounders could not see it. | |
He said they had had problems in the past with him "texting girls and stuff". | |
He said: "It was more to hide it from my girlfriend, if you know what I mean." | |
Dr Paul Hunton, a forensic computers expert, told the jury a Google search for "legal age of consent" was made on Johnson's phone four days after he met the girl. | |
He described how he examined an iPhone 6 from Mr Johnson's house and verified a series of web pages were accessed on 3 February last year. | |
The court heard Johnson's Miss Flounders, also 28, quizzed him about the age of the girl. | |
Det Con Walton agreed that Miss Flounders said to him: "Who is she?" | |
The officer also agreed that he replied: "It's (the girl's name). I just gave her a couple of shirts." | The officer also agreed that he replied: "It's (the girl's name). I just gave her a couple of shirts." |
The court heard that Miss Flounders said: "How old is she?" | The court heard that Miss Flounders said: "How old is she?" |
And Johnson replied: "Well, she said she was 16." | And Johnson replied: "Well, she said she was 16." |
The footballer has previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of grooming. He was sacked by Sunderland as a result. | The footballer has previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of grooming. He was sacked by Sunderland as a result. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |