Former Sunderland footballer and convicted child sex offender Adam Johnson has been jailed. The shamed player has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of sexual activity with a girl of 15.
Judge Jonathan Rose addressed Johnson: ‘She had only just turned 15 when you began to groom her, because you found her sexually attractive even though you knew her to be just 15.’
Adding that the player Johnson digitally penetrated the girl three times in his car and Johnson’s internet search for age of sexual consent was because he intended to have sex with her.
‘You made a deliberate decision to engage in sexual activity despite knowing she was 15, no doubt hoping you would get away with it.’
He’s been ordered to pay £50,000 of prosecution’s £67,132 costs. He earned £60,000 a week while at Sunderland. He’s also been stripped of his 12 England caps.
Johnson, 28, pleaded guilty to charges of grooming and sexual activity with a child, involving kissing, on the first day the case was listed for trial, but initially denied the two more serious charges of oral sex and digital penetration.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said the player ‘was in the habit of meeting girls on the way back from training to have sex’, and he ‘believes he has a right to sex’.
Johnson said he’s not a sexual deviant and explicit messaging was common among his fellow footballers. The court also heard that Johnson told a psycho-sexual therapist he’s prepared to undertake treatment in the hopes of understanding his sexual desires. Priory psychologist, Dr Philip Hopley, says he does not believe Johnson has a sexual interest in pre-pubescent children.
Though Hopley added that Johnson’s ‘development was somewhat retard’ and he appears ‘socially and psychologically immature’ for a grown man.
An impact statement from Johnson’s victim was read in court. The schoolgirl has been left with ‘severe psychological harm’ and has had to attend counselling for depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
The 15-year-old continues to be bullied in school following his conviction and lives in constant fear of being identified. The victim’s mum said her daughter has been subjected to ‘disturbing threats of violence’.
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