Adam Johnson denies football career worries prevented early guilty plea
Recap of Monday 23rd Feb in Court.
Adam Johnson has denied that worries about losing his football career and salary prevented him from entering an earlier guilty plea to grooming and kissing a 15-year-old girl.
Johnson previously denied all four charges against him but pleaded guilty to the two offences on the first day the case was listed for trial at Bradford Crown Court.
The 28-year-old former Sunderland and Middlesbrough winger told the court he was following advice he was given and denied it was because a guilty plea would potentially end his career.
Kate Blackwell QC, prosecuting, asked Johnson why he had not pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing.
He said: It's the advice I was given at the time and I went along with that.''
Miss Blackwell described how he threw his shirt into the crowd after a match against Liverpool in which he scored a goal.
She said: Was that because you knew that the game was up?''
Johnson asked: The Liverpool game?''
Miss Blackwell replied: The game you have been playing with these courts?''
The prosecutor told the court that Johnson admitted his guilt in court on February 10.
She said to him: Something you had known from the start but were there 60,000 very good reasons each week to persuade you?''
After a misunderstanding by Johnson, she clarified: £60,000 a week. Was that what was preying on your mind?''
The football replied: No."