Adam Johnson tells jury he threw away football career
Wednesday 24 February 2016 19:49, UK
Footballer Adam Johnson told a jury he has "thrown away a glittering career" and it was all his fault.
He said his club Sunderland sacked him on the eve of the trial after he admitted grooming a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
His team-mates reacted by "stepping away" from him and refusing to give evidence in his defence, he told Bradford Crown Court.
Johnson said he told the club "everything" after his arrest on March 2 and was suspended, but then allowed to return to the team 16 days later and continue to earn £60,000 a week.
The jury heard the player told the club's chief executive Margaret Byrne that he had kissed the girl.
His barrister Orlando Pownall QC asked him: "Did Margaret Byrne have a copy of your interview, WhatsApp messages, and did she have transcripts of interviews of the girl and others?"
Johnson replied: "Yes."
Mr Pownall: "Did you hold back on your guilty pleas for money?"
Johnson: "No, definitely not."
He told the jury he was not an emotional man, but he felt "absolutely awful" about himself and what had happened to the girl.
The trial continues on Thursday. Read more on Sky News.
