The rise and fall of Adam Johnson

By Gregg Easteal, ITV News

Adam Johnson is a man who once had the world at his feet.

As the prosecution put it football had given him everything: a glittering career, a beautiful girlfriend and more money than he could spend.

Capped for England Johnson even mixed with royalty, laughing with the Duchess of Cambridge on a visit to the training ground.

It was all a far cry from Johnson's modest beginnings in Easington in County Durham growing up in one of the most deprived town's in Britain.

Rising through Middlesbrough's academy he made his debut for the club at just 17 in a UEFA cup game.

North East sports writer Craig Hope remembers a prolific young talent who excited many in the game.

It was outside Sunderland's Stadium of Light that a young teenage schoolgirl - like so many others - found herself drawn to the ground.

Johnson's trial was told the girl idolised and adored Johnson and even had his name emblazoned on the back of her shirt.

But after catching his eye here Johnson would abuse his privilege and position to take advantage of her.

On New Years's Eve the schoolgirl fan made a friend request to Johnson on Facebook.

Recognising her he accepted, and in early messages she told the footballer categorically she was in year ten at school.

He had even remarked her 16th birthday was ages away.

Just two weeks later, in what was described as grooming in its purest form, he arranged to meet her in secret down a quiet lane in his car.

The meeting was short, but in more than 800 texts the footballer made his intentions clearer openly coaxing the schoolgirl towards a sexual relationship.

Hayden Bailey from Teesside University says it is another powerful example of the perils of social media.

Less than a month after first accepting a friend request Johnson set off for a second meeting with the girl - for a kiss and more.

Confused and in crisis about what had happened, the girl told her parents and Johnson was arrested at his luxury home last March.

Psychologist Emma Kenny says he was in a perfect position to abuse and live out his predatory nature.

Johnson's former girlfriend Stacey Flounders had just had their first child when his relationship with the schoolgirl began.

She told his trial they have now split up.

Back in Easington, other young men find his behaviour hard to fathom.

Days before entering guilty pleas at the start of his trial Johnson played his last game for Sunderland.

Throwing his shirt into the crowd, he had already thrown his career and his home life away.

Now this faded star faces prison.