Adam Johnson case 'grooming in its purest form', court hears

The prosecution in the case of Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has told the court that he has "lied, lied and lied again" throughout his trial.

Johnson is accused of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

The 28-year-old has admitted grooming and kissing the girl but denies thatfurther sex acts took place in his car.

Summing up their case, the prosecution said they expected the jury had seen through the player's "transparent cloak of rectitude" to the "core of deceit and lies".

Kate Blackwell QC told the court that WhatsApp messages exchanged between the pair were "building up to a sexual encounter".

She said: "What's clear through the WhatsApp messages is he guided her in a classic case of grooming. Grooming in its purest form."

Miss Blackwell said Johnson was a man who had "pretty much everything" but cheated on his girlfriend, Stacey Flounders, the mother of his daughter, in a way that "demonstrated his exceptional duplicity".

She said: "It epitomises the sort of man who would commit the offences thatare on this indictment."

Miss Blackwell continued:

Adam Johnson's defence team will outline their case to the jury this afternoon.

The footballer denies two charges of sexual activity with a child and the case continues.