Adam Johnson pleads GUILTY

I bet this has happened to many previous player knowing/unknowingly, but this time the family weren't paid off

bad2dabone wrote: »

Those texts are super creepy.

He's finished though, done.

Amazing that the Mrs is standing by him still after the revelations that he was texting the young one just after texting the Mrs cooing over their infant daughter. That's so slimy.

She might have known about the texts or whatever but I wonder if she new the content of the messages.

As Conor74 mentioned earlier in this thread, it's unfair to bring her into it. She's going to be processing this for years you'd imagine. She's probably sick to her stomach and thinking of her public perception.

I think it's pretty crap that pictures of her are even published alongside this scumbag because it's really not anything to do with her.

As others have said, Johnson would hardly have been short of female attention one would imagine, certainly for a man of his status and wealth. So he can hardly be accused of being a person in his 20s who can't attract women of his own age, and therefore goes for someone more naive and easier to manipulate.

So why did he seek out a 15 year old?

Even if he were attracted to girls of that age, as it does appear, he surely could have gone for someone of 16 or 17. Now this would have not pleased many people either in a moral sense - not least his partner, but at least it would have been be completely legal and he would still have his lucrative contract with Sunderland as we speak.

Ages of consent elsewhere are irrelevant, these have been adopted historically to take into consideration social and cultural influences, along with the increase in knowledge and expertise in sexual relationships in a particular country or jurisdiction. Should the age of consent be 11 somewhere, it does not matter a jot, it is 16 in the United Kingdom and therefore it has been decreed in British law that this is the minimum age where individuals can safely and responsibly engage in sexual activity.

Now one could argue Johnson should just have waited until the girl turned 16. But I suspect he wasn't obsessed or in love with her. No, I believe the illegality and the illicit nature of the situation provided him with a real sensation of excitement, the thrill of the forbidden etc.

It appears to me that the reason that many are so angry with him, is because he has essentially abused his privileged position. Professional footballers live in a bubble for the most part and are used to receiving adulation and offers beyond the wildest dreams of the ordinary person. It must be fairly prevalent the situation where they realise fans would do anything for them. Which was undoubtedly the case here. But most are wise enough (or advised within an inch of their lives which may be more relevant) to not go down that road. Not Johnson clearly. Would the girl have been as interested if he were an average Joe 27-28 year old? Even taking the tendency for females to prefer older partners into consideration, most likely not. So he knew he could do whatever he wanted with her.

Now of course his crime would be far more heinous if the girl were under 10 let us say. As others have stated, he is not technically a paedophile. She presumably looked physically older than she was. And she may even have encouraged some of the interaction (although judging by the public messages, she seemed somewhat reticent - it appeared he was doing all the running). But she was only 15, still a good few years off adulthood and would likely have been both emotionally and intellectually immature and prone to making bad decisions. That's another reason why the age of consent law is there, so the chances of youngsters making stupid choices is lessened.

I still can't see him getting much jail time however. Possibly a few months. He'll have been extremely well-advised legally and there will almost certainly have been some plea involved, even if a guilty confession resulted in his contract with Sunderland being cancelled.

Whatever the outcome, it will be a decision he will regret for some time, a man who had it all and threw it all away. Not to mention his name will be ruined in football. All for the sake of a couple of years and a cheap thrill.

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Would he be allowed to play in China on 3 times his Sunderland wages if they came calling for him?

Depends on his sentence.

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Back on how? Source for the latest Article?

Back on as in court was off for the weekend and source would be any reputable site. Assumed that was a given seeing that its a legal case

https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/699270601224163328

https://twitter.com/JoshHalliday/status/699225229911003136


You really have to read the details before making a judgement on the situation. It's sad stuff. Halliday is doing a good job reporting it.

What possible sentence could Johnson be looking at?

It's callous to put the girl through this. Being subjected to the prosecution calling her a liar, and then there's the verbal abuse that will come from peers in her own area.

I'm not sure he cares though.

Augme wrote: »

Is it callous if she is lying?

If she is lying then he is entitled to fight tooth and nail to clear himself of the allegations. But if she is not lying then he is subjecting her to an extremely distressing experience which will scar her, and one would hope - that is, if he is found guilty - that the sentencing would take this on board.