The ex-Sunderland star, 28, gave a statement to police after being arrested on grooming and child sex charges, a court has heard
Andy Stenning / Daily Mirror
The former Sunderland winger told a jury he had been in the dressing room at the Black Cats training ground when he and his team-mates started to discuss a TV programme.
Giving evidence for the first time in his trial for child sex offences, Johnson said the search about the legal age of consent in different countries was carried out during that discussion.
The court has heard Johnson viewed a page on mirror.co.uk entitled 'What is the legal age of consent around the world? From Angola at 12 to Bahrain at 21'
Johnson's barrister Orlando Pownall QC said he was trying to 'recreate the scene' when Johnson's phone was used to look up the age of consent at around 9.30am on February 3 last year.
Andy Stenning / Daily Mirror
Johnson told the court the players would 'gather in the dressing room' before training and they 'all had their phones out'.
He said: “It had nothing to do with (the girl's name) or her age.
“We had a discussion in the dressing room, about a programme on two nights before and a lot of the players are from different countries and we had a discussion about some of the laws and rules in different places around the world.”
The court heard that the 28-year-old, who has pleaded guilty to one count of grooming, and one count of sexual activity which involved kissing the schoolgirl, gave a written statement during an interview with Durham Police.
He 'wholeheartedly apologised' for his actions with the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He described his behaviour as 'totally unacceptable' and said that he ended 'any further contact' with the girl after their second meeting in January last year.
The player confirmed he had seen her on occasions before their two meetings in his car when she approached him after Sunderland matches at the Stadium of Light.
In an interview on April 22 last year at Peterlee police station, he told police: “My initial meetings with (the complainant) were platonic in nature and normally took place in the car park.
“She regularly approached me and asked me to sign shirts. I then had occasion to meet her alone in my motor vehicle.
“At the second meeting I accept I kissed her fully on the lips. When asked if I was sexually aroused, I have no specific recollection but I concede it was a possibility."
PA
He added that he had been interviewed in particular in relation to the more serious allegations of sexual activity with the schoolgirl.
He went on: “In relation to that I deny that she ever engaged in that sexual activity towards me.
“In regard to the messages, I concede that these messages took place and accepted immediately the stupidity of my actions.
“I engaged in cyber flirting and I have no excuse. I accept I knew her age and the reference to her being turned on (in text messages between the two) relates to the passionate way in which we were kissing and cuddling.
“Considering her age I recognise my behaviour as wholly unacceptable and therefore I withdrew from any further contact with her.
“I wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologise for my actions. She was a child and ought to have been safe in my company.”
The jury at Bradford crown court heard the plaster cast was on his left hand and left forearm during his second encounter with the schoolgirl.
He told police that he was right handed. Johnson denies two offences of sexual activity with a child. Dressed in a black suit, white shirt and red tie, he arrived at court today alongside his legal team.
He has admitted the first charge of grooming the schoolgirl over a period between December 30, 2014 and February 26 2015. It involved meeting the girl 'on at least two previous occasions' without 'reasonably believing' that she was over the age of 16.
He also admitted a further charge of sexual activity with her on January 30 last year which 'involved kissing and touching' the youngster's body. Sentencing guidelines for the offence give a maximum of two years and six months.
Johnson denies the two more serious offences of sex with the same schoolgirl contrary to Section 9 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The maximum sentence for those offences is 14 years.
The trial continues.
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