Ex-Sunderland and England footballer Adam Johnson jailed for six years
Follows convictions for sexual activity with a child and grooming
Judge told he inflicted 'severe psychological harm' on schoolgirl
Court also hears Adam Johnson had animal porn on his laptop
Ed Thomas
BBC News
There is no evidence Adam Johnson is specifically attracted to girls under 16, a psychiatrist tells the court.
Dr Philip Hopley says Johnson is like his father, a "closed, quiet and secretive man".
He also said that as a child, the former Sunderland footballer had low self esteem and was self conscious about his body.
Image source, AFPGoing to prison will offer some "relief", Adam Johnson told a psychiatrist.
He told the doctor he just wanted to let the people he had hurt get on with their lives.
The psychiatrist told the court at the age of 28, Johnson was still "psychologically and socially immature".
Adam Johnson does not believe he committed a crime in grooming a schoolgirl, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell told the court that a medical report concluded he did not think his actions were an offence as he thought of his 15-year-old victim as a young woman, not a child.
The former Sunderland and Boro winger told a doctor: "I treated her like any other girl I meet."
Ed Thomas
BBC News
Adam Johnson's physical development as a child "was somewhat retarded", a doctor found.
The court is hearing from Dr Philip Hopley who specialises in assessing sports men and women. He assessed Johnson.
The doctor tells Judge Jonathan Rose that the 28-year-old told him explicit text messaging was common among footballers.
Ed Thomas
BBC News
Adam Johnson's barrister is now addressing the court.
He is giving his mitigating circumstances.
Adam Johnson's sexual activity with a 15-year-old was "calculated, considered, and carefully orchestrated", a court has heard.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said: "This is not a fleeting contact or a fleeting offence.
"These offences were calculated, considered and carefully orchestrated".
The prosecutor also told the court that Johnson had a history of meeting girls for sex, describing it as a "clandestine habit".
Adam Johnson "carelessly and recklessly disregarded" his victim's age, a doctor's report found.
Bradford Crown Court was told he said: "Her age never entered my mind."
The prosecution is seeking a court order to "protect teenagers from sexual harm" from the former footballer.
Adam Johnson told a doctor his victim was "just another girl, just another opportunity" to have sex.
The former SAFC winger has a "compulsive drive to have new sexual experiences", Bradford Crown Court heard.
The doctor's report says Johnson believes he "has a right to sex" and he does not see the girl as a victim.
Adam Johnson's schoolgirl victim has suffered with schoolwork and with bullying because of the former Sunderland footballer's actions, a court has heard.
The 15-year-old was even approached by a stranger who questioned her about the footballer while she was out.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell read part of the girl's impact statement to the court, which said she "felt at risk" going out.
The statement said that because Johnson had protested his innocence she "felt very intimidated by it all and felt very lonely".
Quote MessageI have entered many dark places over this 12-month period and at times wanted to just shut the whole world out".
Adam Johnson's victim
Ed Thomas
BBC News
Adam Johnson used "his standing" as a footballer to groom his schoolgirl victim, the court hears.
Johnson was her favourite player but he admitted he wanted sexual activity with the child.
He wanted to kiss and touch her, Bradford Crown Court was told.
Adam Johnson was in the habit of meeting girls on the way back from training to have sex, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said he took advantage of his standing in society in his role as a footballer.
And he chose to carry on playing football for Sunderland AFC,, external earning adulation and £60,000 a week "knowing he had seriously wronged his victim".
Adam Johnson continued to play for Sunderland even though he knew what he had done and what he would plead guilty to, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said those close to Johnson have provided a platform on social media for abusing his schoolgirl victim.
The court was told that many threats against the girl have been made on social media.
Johnson is being sentenced for two counts of sexual activity with a child and grooming.
Ed Thomas
BBC News
The schoolgirl victim groomed and exploited by Adam Johnson was called a liar every time he played for Sunderland, a court has heard.
The victim's mother said her daughter has had "threats of violence made against her" and this had a devastating effect on her life
The court was told the 15-year-old girl "has lost control of her life".
Ed Thomas
BBC News
Adam Johnson's schoolgirl victim suffered at school and felt intimidated, a court has heard.
Ahead of his sentencing for grooming and sexual activity with the child, the victim said: "I wanted to pretend I didn't exist, shut out everyone."
Her mother added "she felt powerless" that she couldn't protect her own child and stressed no one from the family has tried to make money from the case.
Ed Thomas
BBC News
The prosecution is outlining what Adam Johnson will be sentenced for.
One count of grooming and two counts of sexual activity with a child.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC tells the judge Johnson is man of previous good character.
She says the age difference between Johnson (28) and victim (15) is an aggravating factor.
She adds most significant aggravating feature is the "severe psychological harm" inflicted on the victim.
Adam Johnson is to appeal against his conviction for sexual activity with a child.
Bradford Crown Court has been told the "grounds for appeal" have been lodged this morning.
The former Sunderland winger also pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity and one count of grooming the schoolgirl.
David MacMillan
BBC Tees
"More money and more opportunity to do work locally."
Those are the reasons five Tees Valley councils have come together to take up the government's devolution deal.
It would see £15m a year handed to the region for 30 years, along with new powers in areas like transport.
It is though dependent on accepting an elected mayor.
Negotiations on that will continue over the coming months.
For now the new combined authority will see five councils - Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland - working together in areas like transport and economic development.
Each local authority will continue to carry out it's own responsibilities though, like collecting your bins.
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Here is Adam Johnson running into court to try and avoid the waiting media:
Image source, ReutersThere were a number of camera crews waiting for him:
Image source, ReutersAdam Johnson's sister is not in court for his child sex sentencing today.
Faye Johnson said on Facebook: "Today is the sentencing for my brother, the worst day of my life.
"I will not be attending Bradford Crown Court, the reason for this is Adam has always been my hero, my brother and my best friend, I just don't want him to see the pain in my eyes!"