Prosecution: Johnson had "a compulsive drive to have new sexual experiences

Kate Blackwell QC acted for the prosecution in the Adam Johnson case.

She spoke to the court ahead of the sentence passed down to Johnson at Bradford Crown Court.

Kate Blackwell QC

The prosecutor pointed to the harassment of the victim on social media, saying those close to him "encouraged and promoted" the abuse by providing a social media platform.

Miss Blackwell said the defendant took advantage of the girl's "adulation".

She added:

"This is not a fleeting contact or a fleeting offence, an isolated episode of messages with (victim). These offences were calculated, considered and carefully orchestrated.

The prosecutor also told the court that Johnson had a history of meeting girls for sex, describing it as a "clandestine habit".

Miss Blackwell said a medical report concluded Johnson:

"...believes he has a right to sex".

She said the same report writer said the footballer believed his actions did not constitute an offence as he thought of the victim as a young woman not a child.

The prosecutor said he told one medic: "I treated her like any other girl I meet."

She said he added:

"I put her age out of my mind ... Her age never came into my mind."

Miss Blackwell said one report concluded that Johnson has:

"a compulsive drive to have new sexual experiences".