England footballer Adam Johnson 'made me out to be a liar', says girl

A teenage girl has told a jury how she was no longer trying to protect England footballer Adam Johnson following a sexual encounter in his car because he made her out to be a liar.

The girl, now 16, has told Bradford Crown Court about sex acts that allegedly took place in the former Sunderland winger's Range Rover when she was 15 years old.

She has described how she did not mention some of the more serious activity at first because she was trying to protect the player.

On Tuesday, she was asked by Orlando Pownall QC, defending Johnson, whether she was still trying to protect the 28-year-old.

Appearing in court by video-link, the girl became upset and tearful as shesaid:

Adam Johnson has admitted one charge of sexual activity with a child in relation to the incident in the Range Rover on January 30, last year.

He has also pleaded guilty to grooming the girl.

But he denies two further counts of sexual activity with a child relating tothe same incident which prosecutors have described as "more serious".

Speaking through tears for much of her exchange with Mr Pownall, the girlclaimed she had been "bigging herself up" with some messages to friends on social media.

She added: "When you idolise someone and that happens to you, you're notthinking at the time."

The girl wiped away tears as she told the jury she never thought she would end up explaining herself in court.

Mr Pownall again asked the girl whether she was just trying to protectherself.

She said:

The girl got more upset and she continued to insist she never wanted to getJohnson into trouble.

She said: "I didn't want that to happen to him. I saw myself as playing a partin it as well, I thought I'd done wrong too."

The girl began sobbing again and asked for a break.

Adam Johnson denies two charges of sexual activity with a child and the case continues.