Girl in sex case brands ex-england winger a creep

LONDON: The girl groomed at 15 by former Sunderland player Adam Johnson branded the footballer a “creep”, a jury heard.

Giving evidence by video link, she also said she hated him “because he made me out to be a liar”.

She added: “I had thousands of people calling me a liar and a slag and a little slut – that I was just a silly little girl out to ruin a man’s career.

“Yes I was a silly little girl, but I have had my reputation ruined.”

The girl described the former England winger as “being a bit creepy” in a Facebook message to pals shortly after he began texting her, it was said.

His barrister Orlando Pownall QC asked her: “You thought he was a creep, did you?”

She replied: “I did by some of the messages he was sending me. I thought as soon as I told him my age he would have backed off. He did not.”

The girl was also quizzed over messages she apparently sent to ex-Sunderland striker Connor Wickham after speaking to the police about Johnson.

She denied fancying Wickham and replied: “It does not change what happened with Mr Johnson.”

Giving evidence for the second day, she said she had earlier tried to protect Johnson by lying about the extent of the sexual activity in his Range Rover weeks after his girlfriend Stacey Flounders, 26, gave birth to their daughter. But she insisted she was now telling the full truth because “he did nothing to protect me”.

Sunderland sacked Johnson last week after he admitted grooming the girl and a charge of sexual activity with a child by kissing.

Johnson, who also played for Manchester City and Middlesbrough, denies two charges of more serious sexual activity with her.

The Bradford crown court trial continues.