After a week where there were a lot of revelations coming out of the Adam Johnson trial – like how he allegedly tried to finger her in his Range Rover but couldn’t get her pants off – he’s now taken to the stand himself and started to give evidence.
Guardian journalist Josh Halliday is live tweeting the whole thing:
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Adam Johnson is in the witness box and has taken the oath. He's answering questions from his counsel, Orlando Pownall QC.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
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 says he left school with four GCSEs and joined Middlesbrough FC.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Johnson tells jury @SunderlandAFC knew he admitted kissing the schoolgirl with tongues and of the Whatsapp exchanges
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Johnson says football made him "arrogant" and "slowed" his mental progression, but was "every boy's dream".
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Johnson says he sent "explicit" texts to other girls, aged in their 20s, and that he "wasn't a very good person" to his girlfriend
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Johnson's girlfriend, Stacey Flounders, knows the schoolgirl from her asking for pictures as a fan outside Sunderland stadium, he says
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Asked why he asked for the schoolgirl's mobile number, Johnson said: "To organise how to get the signed shirt to her."
— 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
Discussing photo of AJ on hol with WBA's Chris Brunt and James Morrison, AJ confirms he shaves his chest "for tanning purposes" in summer
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
"I never ever shave me legs," Johnson says, asked about another holiday snap in Dubai. "A lot of the foreign players tend to do it."
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Back to text messages with the girl, Johnson says he didn't want anyone to find out he was "Whatsapping" a 15-year-old girl
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Asked why he asked her age, Johnson says: "At that time it was just conversation. I was chatting as normal"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
Explaining secrecy, Johnson says it would've been an "absolute disaster" if someone took a picture of him in his car with another girl
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) February 22, 2016
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 messages stop then so I guess they broke for lunch, which would make sense as it’s around 1pm. But it isn’t really looking that good for Adam Johnson so far with those answers is it? Although I suppose it’s coming down to ‘he says/she says’ in terms of whether or not the girl went down on him or not, the fact is that she doesn’t really have any reason to make it up and all the Whatsapp messages that have been recovered between the two of them do make it sound like Adam Johnson was angling to try and hook up with her.
I’m not really sure why it’s relevant that he shaved his chest but not his arms or legs though? I suppose we might find out this afternoon, when I expect more gross revelations about this case will emerge, especially if Johnson gets cross examined today.
