Former Sunderland winger Adam Johnson is in court and will imminently learn his sentence, having been accused of having a “compulsive desire to have new sexual experiences.”
As reported by the Telegraph, the wideman—who won the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2012—has also been stripped of his England caps, as confirmed by the player’s barrister, Orlando Pownall QC.
Johnson is expected to be handed a custodial sentence later on Thursday after ‘engaging in sexual activity’ with an underage fan.
The 15-year-old’s testimony has been heard, and Johnson will learn his fate at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday afternoon.
“He tried to destroy messages, repeatedly asked the victim to do the same,” prosecutor Ms Blackwell QC said, damningly, of Johnson. “This was in part because he knew the fact she was under 16.”
Johnson’s ex-partner, Stacey Flounders, the mother of his child, is not in attendance at the court, while the player’s sister has also confirmed that she will not be there to see her brother sentenced.
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Johnson, who earned a reported £60,000 per week at the Stadium of Light, will likely face a prison sentence of between four to 10 years.
28-year-old Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough, before moving to City after loan spells with Leeds United and Watford.
He moved onto Sunderland in 2012, but was sacked by the club earlier this year.