England footballer Adam Johnson has returned to court this morning for day seven of his child sex trial.
The 28-year-old winger pleaded guilty to charges of grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl earlier this month.
But he denies two more serious charges of sexual activity with same teenager, involving penetration.
Today, the prosecution is expected to finish putting forward its case at Bradford Crown Court, before Johnson’s barrister presents his defence.
Johnson is giving evidence as part of this process, resulting in a stronger media presence than usual at the proceedings.
Jurors have previously heard how the ex-Sunderland star's 'excessive arrogance' and 'sexual desire' for the schoolgirl landed him in court.
They have also been told that the father of one 'abused his revered position in society' by allegedly engaging in sexual activity with an underage besotted fan.
Johnson admits sending 'flirty' texts while girlfriend looked after baby
Johnson texted ‘flirty messages’ to the schoolgirl while his girlfriend was looking after their newborn baby, the court heard today.
The England footballer told jurors he sent the messages while Stacey Flounders was sleeping near their infant daughter at their £1.5million mansion in Castle Eden, Co. Durham.
He said: “She would have been asleep or sleeping in the other room because the baby wasn’t sleeping very well at that time.”
Johnson exchanged messages about getting a ‘thank you kiss’ with the girl after meeting her the first time, the court heard.
“I’m embarrassed, it’s awful it shouldn’t have ever happened,” he said after Mr Pownall QC relayed messages he had sent to the alleged victim.
“I think the feelings started from around those messages, I’d say I was attracted to her.”
Johnson also told the court that he suffered a thumb injury in January 2015 and that his hand was put in a cast ‘as soon as he had the scan’.
He said: “It has been bothering me and really sore.”
He told jurors he hadn’t played for SAFC on the weekend of January 24/25 2015.
His injury was announced on the club’s website on January 22.
Johnson said he had an operation on his thumb on February 1 after playing for Sunderland against Burnley on January 31.
He said that doctors has removed the solid cast on his left hand and replaced it for the match.
“It was a similar cast, it was a little more streamlined to play. It was strapped up quite tight with tape,” he said
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