Jury trying Adam Johnson over oral sex with schoolgirl retires

01 March 2016 14:23

A jury has been sent out to consider its verdicts in the trial of England footballer Adam Johnson.

Johnson, 28, has pleaded guilty to grooming a 15-year-old girl and one charge of sexual activity with the teenager.

But the former Sunderland winger denies two more serious counts of sexual activity with a child.

The charges relate to an incident in Johnson's Range Rover on January 30 last year after he met up with the girl in County Durham.

The player admits that he kissed the teenager but he has told the jury the encounter went no further.

The teenager said Johnson put his hands down her pants and she gave him oral sex.

Judge Jonathan Rose began summing up the evidence in the case on Monday and he concluded on Tuesday, reminding the jury of eight women and four men about what the player said under cross-examination in the witness box and, also, what his ex-girlfriend Stacey Flounders told the court.

The footballer sat in the dock listening to the judge flanked by a security guard.

He was wearing a dark suit over a white shirt and a black tie.

Miss Flounders watched from the public gallery with members of Johnson's family.

Judge Rose's final comment to the jury was: "When you retire, you must reach verdicts on which you are all agreed.

"I can only accept unanimous verdicts in this case. 12-0 is the only possible score."

Earlier, the judge reminded the jury about Johnson's account of what happened in the car and how he was arrested at his home in Castle Eden, County Durham, on March 2 2015.

Judge Rose said: "In evidence Mr Johnson said there was a strong possibility he was sexually aroused when he was kissing (the girl). He told you he couldn't remember whether he was aroused or not but he said he enjoyed it."

The judge said Johnson had told the jury he had "seriously wronged" the teenager.

Judge Rose said: "Adam Johnson admitted that he found (the girl) attractive and he was sexually attracted to her."

He reminded the jury that Johnson deleted 834 WhatsApp messages from his mobile phone.

The judge recalled that the player and the girl exchanged messages before the January 30 meeting about getting a thank-you kiss.

He said that in the messages Johnson said he was after "a little bit more than kissing, a bit of feeling".

The judge reminded the jury that, from the witness box, Johnson told the court: "I considered going as far as she would let me. I was hoping I could feel her body, her private parts. It would be the normal progression."

But, the judge said, Johnson told the jury: "I was hoping it would happen, but it never happened."

He said this was because the player said he realised it was the wrong thing to do.

Source: PA