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Jury retires in Johnson under-age sex trial

The judge told the jury even if they believed the “starstruck” schoolgirl was “up for it” and “excited” by her contact with Johnson her “consent” was no defence for what he did as the law protects under-16s.

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The charges relate to an incident that occurred after Johnson picked the girl up in his Range Rover in County Durham, northeast England on January 30 previous year.

He said: “The prosecution says these lies were told in an attempt to hide Adam Johnson’s guilt”. His father, sister and ex-girlfriend Stacey Flounders sat together on the front row of the public gallery, out of his eyeshot.

“He agreed that his not guilty pleas allowed her to be seen as a liar, but said he can not control the fans”, Judge Rose said.

-Lie Two: When he was arrested Johnson told police he had “only given her a couple of shirts”.

“It is likely to be the case that you have heard of a majority verdicts – they do not apply in this case”.

But the defence case was that “such lies as he has told are merely the panicked response of a man who had done wrong by his family”.

Johnson admitted he tried to move things on and have a second meeting.

Jurors in the case will have to decide whether he went further with the schoolgirl, who claims she performed a sex act on the star and he put his hand down her pants.

“Lies alone can not prove the case against Adam Johnson, ” the judge said.

“The defence say it is quite clear that the girl is lying”.

The judge said the jury should also take into account the fact that Johnson was previously of good character and that he is now convicted of the two sexual offences to which he has admitted.

Kate Blackwell QC said: “By his own admission, Adam Johnson is not a man of honour”.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court began its deliberations today.

He said to officers it was the girl who first asked for a “thank you kiss” – when it was him.

The England global has already admitted one count of sexual activity with a child and another of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

Johnson, of Castle Eden, County Durham, denies two counts of sexual activity with a child.

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Judge Rose will continue summing up tomorrow morning at 10am, before sending the jury out to consider their verdict.

Adam Johnson arrives at court