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Adam Johnson guilty of sexual activity with a child Adam Johnson guilty of sexual activity with a child
(35 minutes later)
The footballer Adam Johnson is facing jail after being found guilty of sexual activity with a 15-year-old schoolgirl. The footballer Adam Johnson is facing up to ten years in jail after being found guilty of sexual activity with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
The former England footballer was convicted of digitally penetrating the teenager but was cleared of another count in which she was alleged to have performed a sex act on him. The former England footballer was convicted of sexual activity with the teenager but was cleared of another count in which she was alleged to have performed a sex act on him.
Related: Fall from grace: Adam Johnson’s queasily self-destructive demise
The judge Jonathan Rose told Johnson a custodial sentence was “an almost inevitable outcome” when he is sentenced in two to three weeks at Bradford crown court.The judge Jonathan Rose told Johnson a custodial sentence was “an almost inevitable outcome” when he is sentenced in two to three weeks at Bradford crown court.
He said his preliminary view was that the case fell into the category of a five-year prison sentence with a range of four to 10 years.He said his preliminary view was that the case fell into the category of a five-year prison sentence with a range of four to 10 years.
Judge Rose told Johnson as he was granting him bail that he should use the opportunity to “say goodbye to your daughter” because “you will not see her for some time”.
Johnson’s daughter, Ayla, was seven weeks old when he was arrested exactly a year ago.
The judge said: “You must understand when you return here at the end of March that it will be to receive a substantial prison sentence. Do you understand that?”
Johnson nodded in the glass dock, flanked by two officers. The judge told Johnson he must observe a 7pm-7am curfew and also said to him that “you would be well advised to stay well away from social media” before he is jailed.
The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for nine hours and 42 minutes after which they found Johnson guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child.The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for nine hours and 42 minutes after which they found Johnson guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child.
They returned with a majority of 10-2 after failing to reach a unanimous verdict.They returned with a majority of 10-2 after failing to reach a unanimous verdict.
The jurors convicted the 28-year-old just half an hour after acquitting him on another count of sexual activity with a child.The jurors convicted the 28-year-old just half an hour after acquitting him on another count of sexual activity with a child.
The footballer showed little reaction from the dock as the verdict was delivered. His sister sat with her head bowed in the public gallery.The footballer showed little reaction from the dock as the verdict was delivered. His sister sat with her head bowed in the public gallery.
Adam Johnson pictured in police mugshot after his arrest a year ago today pic.twitter.com/atp0VPXf1aAdam Johnson pictured in police mugshot after his arrest a year ago today pic.twitter.com/atp0VPXf1a
Johnson had denied all four of the allegations until the first day of his trial, when he pleaded guilty to two counts of grooming and kissing the schoolgirl. Johnson had denied all four of the allegations until the first day of his trial, when he pleaded guilty to one count of grooming and one count of kissing the schoolgirl.
He continued to deny that he did anything further than kiss the teenager and disputed her allegation that she performed oral sex on him and that he penetrated her with his fingers..He continued to deny that he did anything further than kiss the teenager and disputed her allegation that she performed oral sex on him and that he penetrated her with his fingers..
The victim, now 16, was a Sunderland season ticket holder who “idolised” Johnson and regularly waited outside the club’s Stadium of Light for a picture with her hero, the court heard.The victim, now 16, was a Sunderland season ticket holder who “idolised” Johnson and regularly waited outside the club’s Stadium of Light for a picture with her hero, the court heard.
They began swapping messages on New Year’s Eve and 18 days later Johnson met the girl to give her a signed Sunderland shirt.They began swapping messages on New Year’s Eve and 18 days later Johnson met the girl to give her a signed Sunderland shirt.
Giving evidence, the £60,000-a-week footballer told his trial that Sunderland AFC knew that he admitted kissing and sending explicit messages to the girl as long ago as May 2015.Giving evidence, the £60,000-a-week footballer told his trial that Sunderland AFC knew that he admitted kissing and sending explicit messages to the girl as long ago as May 2015.
The club is facing troubling questions about why it allowed Johnson to return from suspension just 16 days after his arrest.The club is facing troubling questions about why it allowed Johnson to return from suspension just 16 days after his arrest.
The trial heard that Margaret Byrne, the club’s chief executive, had copies of police interviews with Johnson and the victim, as well as copies of the 834 text messages they swapped, by 4 May.The trial heard that Margaret Byrne, the club’s chief executive, had copies of police interviews with Johnson and the victim, as well as copies of the 834 text messages they swapped, by 4 May.
Johnson’s final game for Sunderland was on 6 February, when he scored in a 2-2 draw away to Liverpool, the weekend before his trial. His contract was torn up 24 hours after he pleaded guilty on 10 February.Johnson’s final game for Sunderland was on 6 February, when he scored in a 2-2 draw away to Liverpool, the weekend before his trial. His contract was torn up 24 hours after he pleaded guilty on 10 February.
Orlando Pownall QC, for Johnson, told the court that there would be an appeal against the guilty verdict.Orlando Pownall QC, for Johnson, told the court that there would be an appeal against the guilty verdict.