Adam Johnson has begun giving testimony at Bradford Crown Court today as he continues his defence against charges of sexual activity with a child. The former Sunderland and England winger took to the stand for the first time today amid ever increasing interest in the trial.
Johnson has already pleaded guilty to kissing a fifteen year old whom he knew was under the age of sixteen as well as grooming the same individual. Speaking in court today, Johnson accepted that he knew it was illegal to kiss a fifteen year old but has said that he was unaware that it was unlawful to communicate the girl in advance in the interest of kissing her.
Questioned by his defence barrister Orlando Pownall QC, Johnson went on to further clarify his position that he is not guilty of the two further charges of sexual activity with a minor before explaining how his life as a footballer had led to him becoming 'arrogant' with 'pretty much everything' being done for him.
The 28 year old also explained how Sunderland were very much aware of the allegations with a solicitor from the club being provided during his second police interview. Further from that, one of the more notable pieces of evidence from Johnson's testimony revolves around the fact that he was shown to have googled 'legal age of consent' around the time that the contact with the girl is said to have taken place.
To that, via the Guardian's Josh Halliday, Johnson explained that his decision to google the age of consent was as a result of a 'dressing room chat' he had with Sunderland players.
Johnson denies that his Googling for 'legal age of consent' was anything to do with alleged sexual activity with the schoolgirl
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
AJ says he Googled 'legal age of consent' during a dressing room chat with Sunderland players about "different ages and rules in the world"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
The trial in Bradford continues.
