Sunderland's Adam Johnson pleads guilty to sex charge

ByEurosport

Updated 10/02/2016 at 20:21 GMT

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming, as his case got underway in court on Wednesday.

Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson arrives at court with his girlfriend Stacey Flounders

Image credit: Reuters

The 28-year-old arrived at Bradford Crown Court to face four charges - three counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16, and one charge of grooming.

In court the winger, who has played 12 times for England, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity and the charge of grooming. He denies the other two charges of sexual activity with a girl aged under 16.

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Sky News's Martin Brunt reported that: "Until this morning, since his arrest last March, Adam Johnson had denied four charges. But after some legal argument this morning [Wednesday], two of the charges were put to him again and he has admitted them."

A jury trial will now take place regarding the other two charges which Johnson still denies.

Johnson began his professional football career at Middlesbrough, moved to Manchester City in 2012, and then moved to Sunderland - his home town club - in a £10 million transfer in the summer of 2012.

Johnson was initially suspended by Sunderland following his arrest last March, but was reinstated to the side a couple of weeks later.