The verdict is in.
Footballer Adam Johnson has been in court this afternoon to appeal against his conviction for sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. The judge informed the court that the starting point for the sentence would be starting at 5 years due to the severity of the crime but Johnson has just been sentenced to 6 years in prison.
The charges relate to a meeting between the girl and Johnson in his Range Rover on 30 January 2015.
A few weeks ago, Johnson was sacked by Sunderland after he was found guilty by a majority of 10-2 votes on the final remaining count of sexual activity with a child and earlier this afternoon, the FA stripped him of his 12 England caps since. The footballer had earlier pleaded guilty to a separate charge of sexual activity with a child, and one count of grooming. The player was back before Judge Jonathan Rose who stated that he had ” no remorse because you still deny the most serious offence”.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell stressed the importance of the “severe psychological harm that the defendant has caused to the victim” and it seems that the trial has had an extremely serious impact on the victim and her family.
Victim's mother says her daughter has had "threats of violence made against her" and this had a devastating effect on her life
— Ed Thomas (@EdThomasNews) March 24, 2016
Josh Halliday is a journalist for the Guardian and here’s his account of how the proceedings unfolded this afternoon after the court reconvened following a short 30 minute break.
Everyone back in court for Adam Johnson sentencing. He's in dock, just smiled and nodded at a friend in public gallery.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
Judge orders Johnson to stand as he begins sentencing
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
"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"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
Judge says Johnson "had every opportunity" to enter guilty pleas but didn't and as a consequence his victim "endured a year of abuse"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
Judge says Johnson is entitled to no more than a 10% reduction in his sentence because of his late guilty pleas to two child sex offences
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
"All of this is entirely your own responsibility and fault," the judge tells Johnson as he gears up to sentence him
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
Johnson's victim will require "ongoing therapeutic interventions," judge says: "I have no doubt I should take this into account"
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
Starting point for Adam Johnson's jail sentence will be five years, judge says. Full sentence to come.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
BREAKING: Adam Johnson jailed for SIX years for child sex offences
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
No reaction from Johnson in the dock as he's jailed for six years. No emotion either from his mother and father.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
Johnson ordered to pay £50,000 of prosecution's £67,132 costs – that's five weeks wages before he was sacked
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
…Actually he was on £60,000 a week – so his £50,000 costs charge is less than a month's pay on his former salary
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) March 24, 2016
More details as we get them.
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