England player Adam Johnson on trial over sexual activity with child

England footballer Adam Johnson will go on trial later today accused of sexual activity with a child.

The 28-year-old former Sunderland winger pleaded guilty to grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl on Wednesday.

Sunderland announced his contract had been terminated on Thursday in a statement released just hours after his boot sponsor Adidas announced they had ended his deal.

The footballer, who has been capped 12 times for his country, has denied two further counts of sexual activity with a child and his trial on these charges is due to begin at Bradford Crown Court.

Judge Jonathan Rose told jurors that Johnson had already pleaded guilty to two charges when the defendant appeared in court earlier in the week.

The grooming charge he has admitted relates to a period between December 30 2014 and February 26 2015.

He also admitted sexual activity on January 30, 2015 which involved kissing and touching the youngster's body.

The defendant, from Castle Eden, County Durham, is being represented by Mr Orlando Pownall QC.

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