Footballer Adam Johnson 'learned of contract termination from father'

Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has told a court that it was his father who received a phone call telling him his contract at the club had been terminated.

Giving evidence for the third day at Bradford Crown Court, the former £60,000-a-week winger and England player, who stands accused of sexual activity with a child, said he was to receive a "one or two-line" email from the club notifying him of their decision during his ongoing trial.

The 28-year-old added that, having pleaded guilty to one count of grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child relating to kissing a 15-year-old girl on the first day of his trial, his team mates had distanced themselves from him.

Johnson denies two further counts of sexual activity with a child after previously denying all four charges against him.

It is understood that players including Steven Fletcher had been due to give evidence on his behalf in the trial.

His barrister, Orlando Pownall QC, asked him: "Since you pleaded guilty how has their approach been to you?"

Johnson told jurors: "They took a step back."

The court heard that Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne, Johnson, his barrister and the footballer's father met for a conference on May 4, 2015, where the footballer was to accept that he had kissed the 15-year-old girl and messages had been exchanged.

Mrs Byrne was also issued with a copy of his police interview transcript and that of his alleged victim.

Johnson told the trial that at the meeting there had been no mention of him being summarily dismissed or the potential consequences of admitting the charges.

Mr Pownall asked: "Was there any discussion of being summarily dismissed by the club? Was there any such discussion in the days that followed?"

Johnson replied to each question: "No."

Mr Pownall asked if he had been present at any decision made by the club with regard to his future, but the footballer said he had not.

He told the court that his father was to receive a phone call telling him his contract was being ended.

Mr Pownall further asked: "Did you hold back your pleas for money?"

Johnson said: "No."

Earlier, in cross-examination, prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said: "Some people may feel sorry for you because you have thrown away your glittering career. The position you are in now was a direct result of your excessive arrogance."

Johnson replied: "I would say more stupidity."

Miss Blackwell said: "The position here is that, while you have a sense of shame, you have no sense of remorse, do you?"

He replied: "Yes, I do."

The prosecutor asked: "When you told the police in interview that being arrested was the worst day of your life, that's genuinely how you felt, wasn't it?"

He said: "Yes".

When asked by his barrister why, he replied: "Because I had been arrested for sexual activity with a child."

The jury of eight women and four men has heard that Johnson met the girl twice in his black Range Rover after exchanging telephone numbers and messaging each other over a number of weeks.

Johnson denies that more serious sexual conduct took place between the pair in his car.

His boot sponsor Adidas also terminated his deal.