Adam Johnson (England and Sunderland footballer)

[YonicScrewdriver]

Johnson has been charged with sexual activity with a child (aged 15) and grooming.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-32777071

I will watch the case with interest.

[sausageeggbacon11]

Money speaks very loudly in this case, even though he has been charged because the club he plays for is fighting for survival in the Premier League he has continued to play and has been very involved in the games in the last couple of weeks.

[Bair]

I saw that they had moved his court date so he could play. I did wonder how common this was and if this is an instance of money talking as sausage said.

[YonicScrewdriver]

Really, Bair?

I guess it's possible for people in regular jobs too.

[thedancingbear]

Hmm. On one hand I hope they chuck the book at him if found guilty. But I see no legal or moral basis for preventing him from working whilst his trial is pending.

[YonicScrewdriver]

bear, it's up to an employer, isn't it, whether to suspend someone when they have been charged with an offence?

[Wishful80smontage]

His partner is standing by him they had a 7 week old baby when he was arrested so he was grooming this child and having sexual activity with her whisk this partner was expecting so she's overlooking both aspects of this.
Sadly his victim has been widely named on social media I hope the police are able to put a stop to that so this girl can start moving forward.

[Bair]

But I see no legal or moral basis for preventing him from working whilst his trial is pending.

I agree as long as he's not allowed near vulnerable people, but given a lot of people work Mon-Fri as do the courts I wonder if exceptions are made whenever possible for those in work or if this case is the exception.

[VikingVolva]

He's been granted bail until the next court appearance date (early June).

Those who named complainants on social media in previous cases were prosecuted. I hope that happens again.

[AuntieStella]

I don't think they'll have moved his court dates because of his occupation. This was an appearance before magistrates, next is crown court.

That's completely routine.

(of have I missed something?)

[Bair]

Going from the local newspaper Auntie

Here is link in full quote below.

'The 27-year-old is due to appear at Peterlee Magistrates Court today after his court date was moved forward 48 hours to avoid clashing with Wednesday’s trip to Arsenal.'

A rather depressing article, the focus on Sunderland's fight against relegation.

[sausageeggbacon11]

Nice to see the Arsenal fans booing Johnson every time he touches the football. There are millions of £ riding on Sunderland staying in the Premiership so the Sunderland fans won't care if Johnson helps keep them up, wrong sort of role model. And there in lies the problem of allowing role models to continue working. Not because of the job but because of the example he sets he should not be playing. Still the boys are booing as well now.

[WhirlpoolGalaxyM51]

The opposition fans booing doesn't mean anything though surely.

If it were an Arsenal player, they'd be cheering, and whoever they were playing against would be booing.

I hope they throw the book at everyone who has named or repeated the name of the 15yo.

[sausageeggbacon11]

Whirl, Arsenal fans rarely boo players and usually hold this only for ex Arsenal players or cheats. The only other player booed in the game was Defoe and he use to lay for Arsenal's main local rivals. Apart from that Johnson was the only player targeted. With Sunderland staying up Johnson has hero status amongst Sunderland fans.

[DanaBarrett]

Have to say the general concenus round here is that he has 'bloody idiot' status at best tbh!

[PuffinsAreFictitious]

I'd agree he's a bloody idiot for raping a 15 year old.

[DanaBarrett]

Believe me it'll get upgraded to when/if he's convincted. It really depends on the facts of the case, the way it was reported locally, it was very drip-fed and although there's absolutely no excusing any of it, it was first presented as him having met her in a local nightclub first of all. I think the majority of mackems are waiting for judgement first (unusual, I admit) before passing their own judgement, but local hero he ain't.

[NoTechnologicalBreakdown]

Dinneruwa, I have no idea about the facts of that case, but you do realise it has no relevance to this one? If an older male, especially one in a position of social power, has been grooming and engaging in sexual activity with an underage girl then it is legally rape.

Keep your goads to yourself.

[PrettyInPinkPan]

dinneruwa is a banned poster.

[NoTechnologicalBreakdown]

Ah, just realised. He has been bored tonight hasn't he. It's a shame some people have so little life that they have to spend it in this sort of pettiness. Poor dear.

[DanaBarrett]

That poor guy, the woman should be charged with at very least wasting police time.

However I somehow doubt the Adam Johnson case is the same. There are obviously a lot of rumours flying around, but as I understand it, if true, he knew full well what he was doing and with whom. He won't get off lightly in anyway. I've literally seen houses burned for much less around here.

[Ohmymg]

I'm a sunderland supporter and would like to chip in with my thoughts.

SAFC have allowed him to play for the club after discussions with Johnsons legal team and the PFA, he was initially suspended but returned to the team when his bail was extended, I'd imagine the decision wasn't taken lightly.

Support for him at games has been vocal, although the shouts of "Paedo" "scum" and other more detailed chants are clearly audible from opposition fans.

Sunderland fans haven't elevated him to "hero status" to coincide with this court case- to be fair he's probably considered to have never reached his full potential as a player although his contributions in games in a poor team is clear.

He is accused of an awful crime and believe me if found guilty Sunderland football club and its supporters will be just as vocal in their anger and disgust as they ever have been in support of him.

I will reserve my judgement until the jury make theirs, I'm not and never will be privy to all of the facts of the case and until that is reached I will continue to support my team and every player in it in exactly the same way I've done previously.