This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/16/adam-johnson-refused-leave-appeal-against-conviction

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Adam Johnson refused leave to appeal against child abuse conviction Adam Johnson refused leave to appeal against child abuse conviction
(35 minutes later)
Adam Johnson, the disgraced former England and Sunderland footballer, has been refused leave to appeal against his conviction for sexual activity with a teenage fan. Adam Johnson, the disgraced former England and Sunderland footballer, has lost another bid to overturn his conviction for sexual activity with a 15-year-old fan.
The 29-year-old, who was jailed for six years last March after being convicted of sexual activity with a 15-year-old following a trial at Bradford crown court, was also refused leave to appeal his sentence. The 29-year-old, who was jailed for six years last March after being convicted of sexual activity with the teenage girl following a trial at Bradford crown court, was also refused leave to appeal his six-year jail sentence.
Mr Justice Sweeney handed down the ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Thursday. Mr Justice Sweeney handed down the ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Thursday, which he made along with Lady Justice Rafferty and the recorder of Sheffield, Judge Julian Goose, following a hearing last month.
Johnson’s trial heard he kissed and touched the girl sexually in his Range Rover in a secluded spot in County Durham. Johnson’s latest failed attempt to appeal his conviction follows an earlier refusal last year by a single judge.
The jury was told Johnson had admitted kissing the girl, but denied he sexually touched her in an intimate area. At the start of his trial, Johnson admitted one charge of sexual activity with a child, relating to kissing her. He also admitted a charge of meeting a child with intent following grooming her.
The trial heard he kissed and touched the girl sexually in his Range Rover in a secluded spot in County Durham. The jury was told Johnson had admitted kissing the girl, but denied he sexually touched her in an intimate area.
Johnson’s application to appeal centred on claims the original trial judge, Jonathan Rose, misdirected the jury in his summing up.Johnson’s application to appeal centred on claims the original trial judge, Jonathan Rose, misdirected the jury in his summing up.
More details soon … His conviction led Sunderland to say the club was “so very sorry” for letting down the 15-year-old fan, and to the resignation of the chief executive, Margaret Byrne, after she admitted “a serious error of judgment” in advising the board that the star could carry on playing after he was initially suspended.