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.
https://twitter.com/EdThomas76/status/712953767050797056
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.
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712981676293496834
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712984803407183872
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712985513041518592
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712988267394805760
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712988607955468289
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712989036017762304
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712991054102994944
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712992706981662721
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712993365315493888
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712993573612994560
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712994158248595456
https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/712994495470694400
More details as we get them.