Johnson admits ‘stupidity’ of kissing girl in court case

He has begun giving evidence in his trial at Bradford Crown Court, accused of sexual activity with a child.

Johnson’s defence barrister, Orlando Pownall QC, asked what it is like to be a professional footballer.

“I was caught up in the texting and speaking to her like I was talking to any other person and I should have known better”.

He then admitted kissing her at a second meeting on January 30 a year ago, but denied it was passionate and repeatedly denied more serious sexual conduct.

Johnson admitted to the jury that he knew that kissing the girl was an offence, but said that he did not realise that communicating with her with the intention of kissing her before their meeting was also an offence.

Asked why he later searched the Internet for “the age of consent”, he said that was connected to a discussion with teammates about a TV programme, nothing to do with sexual activity with the girl.

The officer also informed the court his club were not informed of what was said in the police interviews and Mr Johnson has no previous convictions.

The footballer said it would have been an “absolute disaster” if someone had photographed him with another girl in his vehicle.

Earlier, the court heard that Johnson made a prepared statement to police in which he accepted the “stupidity” of his actions.

He said: “She’s a child and ought to have been safe in my company”.

“I recognise my behaviour was wholly unacceptable”, he said.

The England worldwide has already admitted one count of sexual activity with a child and another of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

She told the court that after Johnson was arrested at his home on March 2 2015, solicitors representing SAFC made contact with police.

Asked about the schoolgirl, Johnson said he knew her because she would wait in the vehicle park outside the Stadium of Light for a picture with him after matches.