Adam Johnson trial: Former Premier League star described as 'bit of a paedophile' by friend of victim

In court: Footballer Adam Johnson arrives at Bradford Crown Court
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Jamie Bullen19 February 2016
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Premier League footballer Adam Johnson was described as a “bit of a paedophile” for pursuing a 15-year-old girl, a court heard today.

A teenager told the jury she did not initially believe her friend’s claims of a sexual encounter with the former Sunderland and England winger, who has admitted sexual activity with the 15-year-old in his Range Rover.

She told Bradford Crown Court she changed her mind after she was shown a series of messages on her friend’s phone from the 28-year-old.

The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, said: “At first I thought, 'It's definitely not Adam Johnson, then..."

Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC asked her, via 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 witness agreed the messages exchanged between her friend and Johnson could be described as “flirting”.

She added: “"He must have known she was not 16. He had said 'Oh well, when are you going to be 16?' And he said 'Oh, that's ages away'."

The court heard Johnson and the girl began communicating on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram and that he allegedly set up a second Snapchat account so his girlfriend would not discover his activities.

But the messages were shown to friends at the girl’s school causing the news to spread like wildfire.

The girl eventually told her parents and the police were called.

A second friend also gave evidence and said a third encounter had been arranged for the pair to have sex in Johnson’s car.

However, when her friend turned up, she claimed Johnson was not there and messaged her to say he couldn’t meet her as he did not have an excuse to leave the house to give to his girlfriend, Stacey Flounders.

The witness said: “She had come over to see Adam and then he did not show up. So she was mad at him.

"That was the same night she told her mam and dad."

Johnson has pleaded guilty to grooming the girl aged 15, between December 30, 2014 and February 26, 2015, and sexual activity with her, involving kissing on January 30, last year.

But he denies two further counts of sexual activity with a child.

It is alleged the teenager gave him oral sex during a second encounter in his car.

The 15-year-old, a Sunderland fan, had an “enormous crush on him” but "abused his position in society" after the pair exchanged messages on social media, it is alleged.

They initially met up so he could personally sign football shirts for the girl, the court heard.

The case continues.

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