Adam Johnson has taken the stand in his defence.
The former Sunderland footballer was called to give evidence by his defence counsel this afternoon as his trial on two charges of sexual activity with a child continued.
Johnson, 28, has already admitted to another count of the same offence and to a charge of grooming, and was questioned about details of his encounters with the schoolgirl.
He admitted that he knew it was against the law to kiss a 15-year-old, however he denied that he had begun communicating with the girl with the intention of developing a sexual relationship or that anything more than kissing took place.
That is contrary to evidence given last week by the girl, in which she claimed Johnson had put his hand down her trousers.
Johnson says he knew it was unlawful to kiss a 15-year-old (a child) but not that it was an offence to communicate beforehand
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Asked whether he engaged in two sexual offences with the girl, Johnson says: "No I never"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Johnson denies he was contemplating sexual activity with the girl, 15, when he asked for her mobile number
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Johnson also denied that his Google search of ‘legal age of consent’ which occurred just days after the alleged encounter with the girl, had anything to with her.
Johnson was sacked by Sunderland at the beginning of the trial and the player admitted the club knew he had admitted to police that he had been texting and kissing the girl.
Johnson tells jury @SunderlandAFC knew he admitted kissing the schoolgirl with tongues and of the Whatsapp exchanges
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
The court heard more details of the contact between the pair as more than 47 pages of messages were poured over. Johnson insisted most of what was discussed was “general chit chat”, and when asked why he had asked the girl to keep their conversations a secret, he replied:
“There was loads of reasons. I had a girlfriend and I knew what could be made of speaking to a girl that age, and I didn’t want her to tell her friends.”
The former England star, who claimed life as a professional footballer had left him arrogant and immature, said he had also had contact with several older women, to whom he sent more explicit messages than those sent to the schoolgirl, and he admitted he ‘hadn’t been a very good person’ to his girlfriend and their daughter.
Earlier, the prosecution wrapped up their case as the court heard a statement made by Johnson to police during his initial questioning in which he accepted he was aware of the girl’s age and apologised to her for his actions.
The trial continues.
