Post by bluetornados on Mar 24, 2016 15:13:57 GMT
Footballer Adam Johnson has been jailed for six years for grooming and sexual activity with a girl aged 15.
Sentencing the ex-Sunderland player, Judge Jonathan Rose told him he had abused a position of trust and caused his victim "severe psychological harm".
The judge told Johnson, 28, he had engaged in sexual activity with her knowing she was under 16.
Bradford Crown Court heard the sexual abuse happened in the footballer's Range Rover last January.
Judge Rose told the footballer, who played 12 times for England, that the girl had "suffered threats and thousands of abusive remarks" on social media.
Judge Rose said Johnson had had "every opportunity" to enter guilty pleas to the charges he finally admitted. He ordered the footballer to pay £50,000 of the prosecution's £67,132 costs.
Speaking after Johnson was sentenced, Det Insp Aelfwynn Sampson, of Durham Police, said: "Fame, celebrity and a position of power does not give you the right to break the law in pursuit of whatever you desire.
"This girl should have been safe but she was used by the public figure she looked up to most."
Sentencing the ex-Sunderland player, Judge Jonathan Rose told him he had abused a position of trust and caused his victim "severe psychological harm".
The judge told Johnson, 28, he had engaged in sexual activity with her knowing she was under 16.
Bradford Crown Court heard the sexual abuse happened in the footballer's Range Rover last January.
Judge Rose told the footballer, who played 12 times for England, that the girl had "suffered threats and thousands of abusive remarks" on social media.
Judge Rose said Johnson had had "every opportunity" to enter guilty pleas to the charges he finally admitted. He ordered the footballer to pay £50,000 of the prosecution's £67,132 costs.
Speaking after Johnson was sentenced, Det Insp Aelfwynn Sampson, of Durham Police, said: "Fame, celebrity and a position of power does not give you the right to break the law in pursuit of whatever you desire.
"This girl should have been safe but she was used by the public figure she looked up to most."
