Friday 12 February 2016 23:16, UK
Adam Johnson "abused his revered position in society" by having sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl who "idolised" him, a jury has been told.
Johnson, who has played 12 times for England, has pleaded guilty to grooming and one count of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16, but denies two further counts of sexual activity with a child.
Prosecutors at Bradford Crown Court began to outline their case on Friday, alleging that Johnson knew the girl's age and had researched "legal age of consent" on the internet.
The jury heard the girl involved was a season-ticket holder at Sunderland and regarded Johnson as "her absolute hero".
Kate Blackwell QC said Johnson made contact with the girl while he lived with his partner, who was then pregnant with their daughter, after receiving a Facebook friend request late in 2014.
An exchange of messages between the pair was read to the jury in which the 28-year-old arranged to meet her to sign a football shirt but made it clear she had only just turned 15.
Blackwell said: "He has abused his revered position in society and, having met (her), this 15-year-old girl, at Sunderland Football Club and later on social media, and knowing that she looked up to him, made a conscious decision to act in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong."
The case continues. Read more on Sky News.
