Adam Johnson has admitted lying to police about messages to a 15-year-old schoolgirl as they “could come across being bad”, a court has heard.
The England international footballer made the statement as he continues to take the stand during his child sex trial at Bradford Crown Court.
Johnson has admitted one charge of kissing the schoolgirl and another of grooming, but denies two further charges of sexual activity with a child.
“I knew the messages could come across being bad and I was worried about what they may sound like I had done,” the 28-year old said under cross-examination.
“I was panicking. I was just worrying about everything, my career, my family, I was honestly in turmoil.”
The Daily Mirror report that Johnson also lied to girlfriend Stacy Flounders about the age of the girl in question, claiming she was 16 not 15, despite acknowledging in court that the girl had revealed her age to him “pretty much as soon as we first started talking”.
However, Johnson denies any plans to meet the girl for sex, saying he had “considered” meeting her in person for a third time before deciding not to do so.
Johnson, who is alleged to have set up a secret Snapchat account so he could speak to the schoolgirl without Flounders knowing, has been taking the stand for the last two days.
He said on Monday that he knew kissing the girl was an offence, but was unaware that communicating with the girl with the intention of kissing her was also an offence.
The footballer was sacked by employers Sunderland after pleading guilty to two of the four charges facing him.
The trial continues.
