Adam Johnson trial: Ex-England star 'checked the age of consent online after sexual activity with 15-year-old girl,' court hears

Premier League football player Adam Johnson made two internet searches about the legal age of consent after engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old, a court heard.

Johnson, 28, who was playing for Sunderland at the time and has represented England, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child taking place on January, 30, 2015.

The prosecution allege sexual activity took place between Johnson and the girl in his car and that previous messages sent between the two prove the then 27-year-old knew she was under the age of 16 before the incident.

[FOOTBALL FACES HARD MORAL QUESTIONS OVER JOHNSON CASE]

A court heard that during one exchange, the defendant, who has a daughter with his partner, Stacey Flounders, sent the girl a message which asked if she was in the last year of school, to which she replied she was in Year 10.

At a later date, the defendant told the girl she looked old enough to go out and then asked: "When are you 16?", to which she replied: "People say that all the time. No-one believes me when I say I'm 15", before saying she would be 16 in "November".

Bradford Crown Court, West Yorks., also heard that the defendant had allegedly made two internet searches about the legal age of consent.

Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC told the court: "Was this because he was concerned about the sexual behaviour he had engaged in on January, 30?

"Or was it because he was planning to see the victim once more and to go even further?"

Describing the defendant as being before the court because of a "sexual desire" for the girl, "excessive arrogance" and an "unwarranted level of expectation", Ms Blackwell outlined the case.

She told the court: "The victim's real passion was Sunderland Football Club. She had an enormous crush on the defendant.

"He was her absolute hero. She idolised him.

"The victim requested the defendant as a friend on Facebook a few days before New Year 2015.

"He accepted her Facebook request and messaged her to say he could see she was a 'massive Sunderland fan.'

"He then asked for her mobile telephone number and gave her his personal mobile telephone details."

Messaging between the two began and they discussed when they could meet for Johnson to sign a shirt her.

During one exchange before their first meeting, the girl congratulated Johnson on the birth of his baby girl.

The girl sent a message which said: "Congratulations on Ayla's birth.Love the name", to which the defendant replied thanks before the victim said: "Sure she will be spoilt rotten".

Ms Blackwell described the first meeting between Johnson and the girl and said: "The meeting between the defendant and the victim took place after 9:10pm on January, 17.

"She got into his vehicle and they spoke about football and listened to the radio. He got out his football shirt and signed it.

"The whole meeting lasted about 15-20 minutes".

The court then heard that communication between the two continued.

Ms Blackwell said: "On January, 27, the victim messaged the defendant telling him she needed to say thank you for the shirt.

"The defendant suggested they meet on Friday 30. The following day he messaged her to say he was looking forward to this thank you."

The prosecution then allege that Johnson and the girl met at the same place as their previous meeting, again in his car, and Johnson asked the victim if he could kiss her.

Speaking to the jury, Ms Blackwell said: "What happened in that car on that evening is for you to decide.

"The Crown's case is that sexual activity took place."

The court heard message exchanges between the defendant and the girl following their second meeting with Johnson asking the victim: "Wasn't bad, was it?"

In another message, Johnson tells the girl: "Think we better go in the back next time", before later saying, "just wanted to get your jeans off."

Speaking about the defendant, Ms Blackwell said: "He abused his position in society and having met the victim, a 15 year old girl, at Sunderland Football Club and on social media, and knowing that she looked up to him, made a concious decision to act in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong."

The trial continues.