Jury finds Footballer Adam Johnson not guilty on one count of sexual activity with a child

Footballer Adam Johnson has been found not guilty of one count charge of sexual activity with a 15 year old girl, while the jury is still undecided on the other count of sexual activity by penetration, with the prosecuting
counsel saying Johnson admitted the first two charges of kissing and grooming an underage girl so he could be set free from the more serious counts of sexual activity with a child.

Arriving at court today, Johnson was again accompanied by his ex-girlfriend Stacey Flounders, who has supported him during the trial and gave evidence for the defense, despite claiming she and the sacked footballer have split up.

The prosecuting counsel say Johnson had oral sex with the 15 year old girl and even penetrated her but the player and the defense counsel say he only kissed the girl.

 

Judge Jonathan Rose finished his summing up to the jury yesterday before telling them they should strive to reach unanimous verdicts.

He told them: ‘When you retire you must reach verdicts on which you are all agreed. I will only accept unanimous verdicts - 12-0 is the only possible score.’ 

The judge reminded the jury that Johnson deleted 834 WhatsApp message 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 said

 '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.'

 'I was hoping it would happen, but it never happened.'

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

The trial continues.