Adam Johnson

She is every bit a victim.

No matter how flirtatious or "encouraging" she may have been, Johnson is an adult, she is only a child, and he should even been remotely considering touching her or any "sexual" advances, none, zip, nothing.

Send an autograph, maybe a shirt, but texting and grooming, is a criminal offence. If he has to be made an example of, then so be it, this abuse of power/influence should not be tolerated.

Watford, sorry, no way, as an adult Johnson cannot touch a child

 

What's his job got to do with it? Does the fact he's a footballer make it ok?

 

It's not "ok". If he was a plumber she was still old enough to want it and be a willing participant. He didn't force her into it.

 

I'm not saying it's not a criminal offence. I just don't think she's a victim. It's a victimless crime, regardless of any teary statements after the event.

 

She may have been willing, but it is still illegal for an adult to touch a child, sexually.

 

As a child taken advantage of, she is a victim !!

 

A difficult and depressing case

The girl involved must've known what she was doing was risky, if not illegal, and must surely (as a massive Sunderland fan) have know something about Johnson (like his partner was pregnant)

But then apparently Johnson knew she was only 15, and he obviously knew his partner was pregnant

I can understand the temptations from both sides (rich footballer......adoring fan), but both parties have had a horrible wake up call, and one that both are likely to regret for years, if not the rest of their lives

What a waste

 

When it's consensual, I don't see it as being taken advantage of.

 

Stortford, don't understand ?

How can an adult be "tempted" sexually by a child ??? Sorry, but NO !!

 

A 15 year old is in no position to give consent for a sexual act

 

She is a child, how on earth can an adult be interested sexually in a child ???

Doesn't matter if she made advances, or was flirtatious, an adult must know better, and refuse as they would know it is illegal.

 

Like it or not, most are and do. Because it's a 20-something man it's obviously not ok but a significant minority of 15-year-olds are regularly having sex with people of similar age, often those technically adults.

 

Yes, again, I'm not condoning his actions. I just think it's wrong to make out that she was/is a helpless child.

 

I didn't mean the child angle - obviously wrong. I was referring to the feeling of power that someone like Johnson would feel at being worshipped by fans

 

So that makes it ok ?

It is illegal for an adult to have sexual relations with a child.

As Hoops rightly said a child is not in a position to give consent

 

I'm inclined to agree with this Watford

I don't think either of them comes out of this well

 

Of course it's not ok, but there won't be many 15-year-olds who haven't taken part in 'sexual acts'. The average age to lose your virginity is believed to be 16, and logically most kids are doing other stuff for some time before that.

 

So you never knew any 16 yo boys having sex with 15 yo girls or vice versa when you were at school KPD?

I'm not condoning this either, but the reality is that hormone raging teenagers don't always stop and think first

HOWEVER Johnson at 28 is most certainly in the wrong, and prosecution was absolutely the right outcome

 

So what about this fellow. Would the same logic apply?

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/why-talking-about-bowies-sexual-misconduct-matters_b_9009230.html

 

I assumed that was why he dressed as a clown