DISGRACED footballer Adam Johnson has been jailed for six years after being
found guilty of child sex offences.
The shamed Sunderland star showed no emotion as he was handed the sentence at
Bradford Crown Court today.
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Johnson was also ordered to pay £50,000 of the prosecution’s £67,132 costs –
less than a week’s wages before he was sacked.
The former footie ace was also handed a restraining order banning him from
contacting the victim or her family.
Johnson was convicted of one charge of sexual activity with a child earlier
this month, after previously admitting grooming and kissing a 15-year-old
schoolgirl.
Sentencing the child sex offender, Judge Jonathan Rose described Johnson as
having “no remorse” and labelled his actions “deliberate”.
He said: “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”
Judge Rose pointed out the girl was a Sunderland season ticket holder who
waited behind every match to see him, adding: “You were her favourite
player.”
The 28-year-old sat emotionless in the dock as his schoolgirl victim said she
fears she may never fully recover from what happened.
A statement from the teenager was read out before he received his sentence.
It said: “I have felt very intimidated and lonely at times because Adam
Johnson refused to admit his guilt.”
“It has had and continues to have a massive impact on my life. My
schoolwork has suffered and I’ve been bullied at school.”
She added: “I just wanted to pretend I didn’t exist and that this wasn’t
real.”
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The victim’s mother said: “There’s been no winners…I take no
satisfaction in how this has affected Adam Johnson, his family, and football
fans.”
She added her daughter has had “disturbing threats of violence made
towards her” and had a “devastating” effect on her life.
The court heard “those closest” to the pervert actively encouraged
people to name and abuse the schoolgirl victim on social media.
The former £60k-a-week player’s mum and dad sat in the front row as he was
sentenced today.
Both showed no emotion as their son’s sentence was read out.
His ex-girlfriend Stacey Flounders remained at home with their daughter Ayla.
Johnson’s sister Faye, who has been vocal in support of her brother, was also
not at court.
It was earlier revealed the disgraced Sunderland winger is launching an appeal
against his conviction.
The disgraced former England player protested his innocence against the charge
he was found guilty of throughout the trial.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC earlier outlined the sentencing guidelines of
five years for the crime.
She outlined the “severe psychological harm” to Johnson’s
15-year-old victim as the most aggravating feature of his crimes.
Blackwell added Johnson used his good character to groom the victim and
persuade her into sexual activity, and so shouldn’t be allowed in
mitigation.
She outlined the shamed footballer was “in the habit of meeting girls on
the way back from training to have sex”.
Priory psychologist Dr Philip Hopley, who saw Johnson after the trial, said he
has had a huge “fall from grace”, which will be “at the
forefront of his mind for the rest of his life”.
Johnson told the doctor: “I have lost all the important aspects of my
life. My reputation, my career, my girlfriend.”
The doctor described him as socially and psychologically immature, and said he
has no attraction to young children.
Defence lawyer Orlando Pownall QC urged Judge Rose to be “proportionate”
when sentencing the footballer.