Details Emerge from Adam Johnson Child Sex Trial

Former Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a person under 16 and another count of grooming, but he still faces two other charges related to his relationship with a 15-year-old girl, and the trial is currently underway. Johnson has admitted to kissing the girl—the one count of sexual activity he pleaded guilty to—but has denied anything further occurred. As the prosecution puts on its case, we've learned how the relationship came to be and how Johnson interacted with the girl, via various texting apps.

The girl was apparently a big Sunderland fan and Johnson was her favorite player; she would wait after to games to get a photo with him. The prosecutor told the jury "she had an enormous crush on him" and eventually friended him on Facebook. He accepted and they began chatting, first via text, then Whatsapp and Snapchat.

Adam Johnson text to girl: "You in the last year of school?" Girl: "Year 10. Will you still send me a signed shirt?"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

"When you 16?" Johnson asked schoolgirl on New Years Eve 2014. "November," she replied.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

Johnson: "Where do you go out?"
Girl, 15: "I'm not old enough to go out."
Johnson: "Yeah but you look old enough."
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

They then arranged a time and place to meet so he could give her a signed jersey.

First meeting between Johnson and the girl was on 17 Jan 2015 - 18 days after they began texting - behind a Chinese takeaway in C. Durham
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

The girl got in his black Range Rover. He put on interior light, got out a football shirt and signed it. They talked football.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

The whole meeting lasted 15 minutes, court told, after which he dropped her off to meet a friend.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

The girl later text Johnson to thank him for the shirt. "No problems. You owe me lol," he replied
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

"Thought I would've got a thank you kiss for the shirt," Johnson text the girl. They then talk about meeting again.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

On 27 Jan the girl texted Johnson to say she still needed to say "thank you" for the shirt. He replied that he was looking forward to it.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

Johnson: "Am in only getting a kiss?"
Girl: "Depends what else you're after"
AJ: "Depends what you're up for -a little bit more than a kiss"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

They meet again on 30 Dec, court told, in his car behind same takeaway. Sexual activity took place, prosecution say.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

Johnson went on to tell her: "Was class. Just wanted to get ya jeans off lol"
Girl: "Next time haha"
AJ: "I will last 10 seconds tho lol"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

Later the girl asks Johnson to download Snapchat, so he does. "I was looking forward to a naughty Snapchat there lol," he text her
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

Johnson searched internet for "legal age of consent" on 3 Feb, days after alleged sexual activity with 15 year old girl, court told
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

Soon after, the girl became upset about rumors swirling at her school about her and Johnson, and her mother urged her to contact police. Johnson would later tell police that he knew what he did was wrong and he immediately felt bad about himself, but he insisted to police they hadn't done anything more than kiss. The prosecution told the jury this was a lie.

Johnson was engaging in sex acts with schoolgirl when his partner text him heartfelt message trying to save relationship, court hears
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

AJ's girlfriend sent him pic of their baby. AJ: "She looks class" – 30 seconds after he text girl to say "I will last 10 seconds tho lol"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 12, 2016

Another text sent, in response to a bikini photo, has Johnson asking for "another one with the bikini off." The prosecution is hammering Johnson for knowingly preying on a young fan and has shared his lecherous text messages as proof. They are building the case that Johnson knew exactly what he was doing—he asked her how old she was and researched age of consent laws—and, because of his status as favorite player on her favorite team, he knew he could take advantage of her.

Johnson will have an opportunity to rebut these claims, but he has already admitted to much of the case, and has only denied that he did anything more than kiss her.