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Adam Johnson pleads guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child

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Adam Johnson has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming. He denies two other charges

Adam Johnson has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one of grooming, but has denied two other charges of sexual activity with a child.

The 28-year-old Sunderland winger appeared in Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday for the first day of his trial on three charges of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16 and one of grooming. 

The England international admitted two of the charges.

Johnson will still stand trial for the charges he denies and a jury of six women and six men have been sworn in. The trial will begin on Friday.

The Sunderland-born footballer, who has 12 England caps, was arrested in March 2015 after he was accused of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

The incidents of sexual activity are said to have taken place in January 2015, while the offence of meeting a child after sexual grooming was said to have happened between December 2014 and February 2015.

Kate Blackwell QC for the prosecution said that the alleged incidents had taken place in County Durham, in or about the area of Castle Eden, where Johnson lives, and Wingate.

Johnson is represented by Mr Orlando Pownall QC.

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