This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35721975

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Adam Johnson: Durham Police say officers told Sunderland of kiss with girl Adam Johnson: Durham Police say officers told Sunderland of kiss with girl
(35 minutes later)
Police held a "detailed" meeting with Sunderland about the allegations against footballer Adam Johnson on the day he was arrested, the BBC has learned. The chief executive of Sunderland Football Club was told about Adam Johnson's sexual activity with a 15-year-old fan more than a year ago, the BBC has learned.
Durham Police said the club was told Johnson, who has been convicted of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, messaged and kissed the girl. Durham Police said Margaret Byrne was told on the day of Johnson's arrest that he had messaged and kissed the schoolgirl.
Sunderland initially suspended Johnson but then allowed him to carry on playing before his trial. Sunderland initially suspended him before reinstating him.
His victim has asked why he was allowed to play. He was convicted on Wednesday of sexual activity with the girl.
His victim has asked why he was allowed to keep on playing.
Det Insp Aelfwynn Sampson from Durham Police, the lead investigator of the case, said she met Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne on 2 March 2015.Det Insp Aelfwynn Sampson from Durham Police, the lead investigator of the case, said she met Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne on 2 March 2015.
She told BBC News: "They were given detail that he had met the girl and sexual activity had taken place."She told BBC News: "They were given detail that he had met the girl and sexual activity had taken place."
She said the club was also told he had exchanged messages with the girl.She said the club was also told he had exchanged messages with the girl.
Det Insp Sampson said the victim deserved to know why Sunderland continued to play him. She added: "At the centre of this we have a 15-year-old girl who was an avid Sunderland fan and a massive fan of Adam Johnson, she describes him as her idol, she'll want to know why he was allowed back on the pitch."
She said: "At the centre of this we have a 15-year-old girl who was an avid Sunderland fan and a massive fan of Adam Johnson, she describes him as her idol, she'll want to know why he was allowed back on the pitch." Sunderland are yet to respond to the specific claim about the meeting with Durham Police.
Johnson was suspended for a few weeks but then allowed to play again, with the club saying they understood he planned to deny all the charges against him.
Sunderland sacked him on the first day of his trial after he admitted grooming and kissing the girl.
During his trial Johnson said the club knew he had kissed the girl, but in a statement released after the verdicts Sunderland "strongly refuted" any claim that they knew he planned to admit any of the charges.