Former Sunderland winger Adam Johnson 'abused position in society'

England footballer Adam Johnson "abused his revered position in society" when he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old Sunderland fan "in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong", prosecutors in court have said.

The girl contacted the 28-year-old player via Facebook shortly before New Year 2015, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard today, and the two began exchanging messages before they met so he could sign shirts for her near a Chinese takeaway close to the girl's home.

The pair continued to exchange messages before meeting again at the same location in Johnson's black Range Rover on January 30, 2015.

Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC told the court: "The Crown's case is that sexual activity took place, that the defendant and [the girl] kissed, with tongues, for some time during which the defendant unbuttoned her jeans and undid the zip."

Miss Blackwell said that the defendant then drove to "a more secluded place" where further sexual activity took place.

She told the jury of eight women and four men that the pair exchanged further messages after the encounter and Johnson told the girl: "It was class."

Johnson, who was yesterday sacked by Sunderland, has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and another of meeting a child following sexual grooming, but has denied two further counts of sexual activity with a child.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.