Disgraced footballer to launch fresh appeal bid today

The former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson will today (Tuesday) launch a new appeal bid.

Johnson, who was jailed for six years over sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, will ask judges at the Court of Appeal in London to give him the go-ahead to challenge his conviction and jail term.

Johnson was jailed in March 2016 after being convicted of sexual activity with a 15-year-old following a trial at Bradford Crown Court.

His trial heard that the former Sunderland and England winger had kissed and sexually touched the girl in his Range Rover in a secluded spot in County Durham.

Trial judge Jonathan Rose was satisfied the girl had suffered "severe psychological harm" and that Johnson had taken advantage of "a young teenager's adoration of a successful celebrity".

He admitted another charge of sexual activity with a child and grooming the girl.

His conviction led Sunderland to say the club was "so very sorry" for letting down the 15-year-old fan, and to the resignation of chief executive Margaret Byrne, after she admitted "a serious error of judgment" in advising the board that the star could carry on playing after he was initially suspended.