Football
PA Sport and ESPN staff 9y

Adam Johnson preliminary court date set over underage sex charges

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson's preliminary hearing related to three offences of sexual activity with a girl under 16 and one of grooming will be held on June 3.

Johnson, 27, held hands with his partner Stacey Flounders as they arrived at Peterlee Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The England international was arrested in March after he was accused of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

The three counts of sexual activity with a child were said to have taken place on one night in January at two locations in County Durham while the sexual grooming offence was said to have happened between December and February.

The winger, who has played 12 times for England, lives in a mansion in Castle Eden, County Durham.

Born in Sunderland, Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then Sunderland for £10 million in 2012.

During the five-minute hearing, his solicitor, Paul Morris, indicated he would plead not guilty. No pleas were entered on Monday.

The case was sent to Durham Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on June 3.

He did not comment as he left court with Ms Flounders and was driven away in a Range Rover.

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