Teenager's friend told court she was worried by WhatsApp messages to Adam Johnson

The best friend of the teenager groomed by Adam Johnson told jurors that the footballer was the one who initiated WhatsApp contact between them.
Adam Johnson outside Bradford Crown CourtAdam Johnson outside Bradford Crown Court
Adam Johnson outside Bradford Crown Court

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons but will be referred to as Friend 1, gave her evidence to Bradford Crown Court today in the form of a pre-recorded police interview.

Adam Johnson entering court today.Adam Johnson entering court today.
Adam Johnson entering court today.

Johnson, 28, is accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child.

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He has already admitted charges of meeting a child following sexual grooming and one count of sexual activity with a child.

The complainant in all charges was 15 at the time the incidents are said to have taken place.

Related story: Friend expected teen girl and Adam Johnson to 'have sex' during third meeting, court hearsFriend 1 told the court that after contacting the complainant on social media, the ex-SAFC player asked the girl for her number and then later asked her to download WhatsApp so they could speak further.

Adam Johnson entering court today.Adam Johnson entering court today.
Adam Johnson entering court today.

The pair spoke "near enough every day" through the app, Friend 1 said, and a meeting was then arranged between them so Johnson could give the girl a "signed T shirt" which he had worn.

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She said: "She didn't want to [meet] at first. She didn't want to in case it wasn't him."

On the night that the girl and Johnson met for the first time, Friend 1 accompanied her en route to the footballer's car. When they saw the black Range Rover, they were "shocked".

"She didn't believe that it would actually happen," Friend 1 added.

After they met for the first time, the girl was "excited" and still "couldn't believe" she had met her favourite player and got a shirt, Friend 1 added.

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Jurors heard that the friend was then "worried" by some of the WhatsApp exchanges between the girl and Johnson following their first meeting.

These messages included asking for a thank you kiss, saying he wanted "more than a kiss" and something to do with "a bit of feeling".

She continued: "She told me that he had kind of hinted at doing stuff with her and she told me what the message said, and it didn't really sound right for something that a 27-year-old would say to her."

At the second meeting between them, Johnson is alleged to have touched the girl and she allegedly performed a sex act on him for three or four seconds.

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The girl was "more excited" following this meeting, Friend 1 said, and reportedly told her that Johnson had touched her.

Later, the girl began to act differently.

The friend continued: "I think she started to realise what she has done because he had a girlfriend and a baby.

"She started to act different and not go on about him as much and you could tell that something has changed.

"He was her favourite footballer and she would always go on about him even before he spoke to her and after all that had happened she just acted differently and didn't speak about him as much."

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Friend 1 also appeared in court via a live video link to be cross-examined by Orlando Pownall QC, Johnson's barrister, and questioned by Kate Blackwell QC, prosecuting.

In evidence, the girl admitted that she failed to tell police when interviewed about the sex act her friend allegedly performed on Johnson.

She said she did this because she "didn't believe it", and also said that the girl had asked her not to tell officers.

She continued: "She came out with it a few hours later after she already told me about [Johnson touching her]."

"She told me not to say anything," Friend 1 added.

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Mr Pownall also asked Friend 1 about text messages exchanged between the two girls, sent on the day of the first meeting and later deleted.

The barrister asked the friend why the messages had been deleted.

Friend 1 added: "If I did it would have been because she told me to, so no one took my phone and [saw them]."

As well as being asked to lie to police about an alleged sexual act and delete text messages for the girl, Friend 1 told the court that she was asked not to tell police about a third meeting which she said happened between her and Johnson.

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In evidence, Friend 1 said that the girl told her about a so-called third meeting with the footballer, in which she claimed he had given her £50 to spend on a trip away.

From this trip, the girl brought Friend 1 some presents.

Friend 1 said: "She told me that she had paid for my gifts with the money Johnson gave her."

She "didn't believe" that this meeting had taken place, Friend 1 added, because the girl "hadn't told anybody else" about it.

In evidence yesterday, the girl herself said that this meeting never happened, and that she had told her friend it had for "a joke".

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Mr Pownall also questioned Friend 1 on the girl's character, and whether or not she was "dominating" and could be known to "exaggerate".

She admitted that the girl was the "leader" of their friendship group and agreed that she did exaggerate sometimes.

The trial continues