The footballer Adam Johnson told a court he gave his mobile number to a 15-year-old schoolgirl because he was sexually attracted to her.
The 28-year-old England international told jurors he knew the teenager was underage when they kissed passionately in his car after swapping flirty text messages.
Giving evidence for a second day at Bradford crown court, Johnson said he never gave his personal mobile number to Sunderland fans but had done with the girl, who cannot be named.
His counsel, Orlando Pownall QC, asked: “Is it because from the very beginning that you were attracted to her and wanted to have some sort of sexual relationship with her?”
Johnson answered: “Yeah.”
He added later: “I think when I seen her at a lot of games I got to know her and recognise her and see her more often.”
He told jurors on Monday that he grew attracted to the girl after meeting her for the first time when they started exchanging flirty messages.
On Tuesday, Johnson said he was in “turmoil” after being arrested on suspicion of child sex offences on March 2nd last year.
Jurors heard that Johnson told his girlfriend while being arrested that the girl “said she was 16”.
Asked why he said that when he knew it to be untrue, he told the court: “At the time I panicked. I wanted a chance to come home and explain to Stacey what had happened – I didn’t want not to have a chance to explain. She could have left home and taken my daughter away.”
Johnson said he went to his parents’ home after being released on bail and told his girlfriend “everything”.
“I can’t describe how hard it was and how bad it was for her,” he added.
The former Manchester City player, capped 12 times for England, said he tried to downplay his feelings for the girl and their kiss during his police interview.
He told jurors he could not believe the allegations she made to police – that they performed two sex acts on each other – which he denies.
“I felt like someone was making her say these things for the benefit of herself,” he said.
Concluding Johnson’s evidence in chief, Pownall asked: “Did you digitally interfere with [the girl]?”
Johnson asnwered: “No I didn’t.”
Pownall asked: “Did she engage in oral sex with you?”
Johnson: “No I never.”
Pownall asked: “Did you drive down to the park?”
Johnson: “No.”
Pownall asked: “Did you on at least two occasions take her hand and try to put it in the area of your penis?”
Johnson: “No.”
Johnson denies two counts of sexual activity with a child. He has admitted one count of grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child.
The trial continues.
(Guardian service)
