Courts rejects Adam Johnson's appeal

Courts rejects Adam Johnson's appeal

Adam Johnson has lost his appeal against his conviction and sentence for a child sex offence, according to his sister.

The disgraced former Sunderland winger’s sister, Faye, posted a message on Twitter, saying:

“Absolutely devastated that the single judge has rejected my brother’s appeal against sentence and conviction.

“But I can assure every supporter that it has made me stronger and I will never give up.” 

Former England international Johnson was jailed for six years in March for engaging in sexual activity with a 15year-old girl and had appealed against both that conviction and the six-year prison sentence.

The 28-year-old also pleaded guilty to two other charges of kissing and grooming the girl during his trial at Bradford Crown Court.

The trial heard that Johnson had kissed and sexually touched the girl in his Range Rover, in a secluded spot in County Durham.

Johnson was also arrested for possessing extreme pornography, and pre-trial hearings heard that police found medicines in a safe when he was arrested which indicated he may have been suffering from sexually transmitted infections.

Judge Jonathan Rose said that, as a result, he was satisfied the girl had suffered “severe psychological harm” and that Johnson had taken advantage of “a young teenager’s adoration of a successful celebrity”.

Johnson’s sister, who set up an appeal page on Facebook, went on to say in the message: “Also my appeal page has been temporarily removed but will be back up and running very soon with the link to my website.

“Thank you to everyone for your continued support daily it means a lot and keeps me going.”