Adam Johnson has been charged with three offences of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and one of grooming.
The 27-year-old – who answered bail at Peterlee police station in County Durham on Thursday – will now appear at Peterlee Magistrates Court on May 20.
A statement from Durham Police said: ‘Adam Johnson, a professional footballer aged 27 from Castle Eden, County Durham has this afternoon been charged with three offences of sexual activity with a child under 16 years old, plus one offence of grooming.
Adam Johnson leaves Peterlee police station after being charged with three offences of sexual activity
The England international leaves the Peterlee police station after learning of the charges against him
The former Middlesbrough man will now appear at Peterlee Magistrates Court on May 20
The 27-year-old looks on during Sunderland's 1-0 Premier League win against Newcastle earlier this month
‘Johnson was initially arrested on Monday, 2nd March and was charged after he answered his police bail today (Thursday) at Peterlee police station.
‘He will appear at the magistrates court in Peterlee on the morning of Wednesday, May 20th.’
Gerry Wareham, CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North East, said he believed there was a realistic prospect of conviction and it was in the public interest for him to be charged.
'Following an investigation by Durham Police, I have today authorised police to charge Adam Johnson, aged 27, with four offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The offences are alleged to have been committed on one girl aged 15 at the time,' he said.
'Adam Johnson was arrested on 2 March this year.
'We have reviewed the available evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and concluded that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to charge Adam Johnson with one offence of meeting a child following sexual grooming, contrary to Section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and three offences of sexual activity with a child, contrary to Section 9 of the Sexual Offence Act 2003. The alleged offences date from 30 December 2014 to 26 February 2015.
Johnson was accompanied by his lawyer as the Sunderland winger arrived at the police station on Thursday
He was driven to the police station in a silver 4x4 before entering to answer his bail
The England international (right) was wearing a black tracksuit as he attended the hearing in County Durham
'Durham Police have charged the defendant accordingly and he is due to appear before Peterlee Magistrates on 20 May.
'May I remind all concerned that the defendant has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
'I would also remind people that the complainant in this case is entitled to lifelong anonymity under the law. For these reasons, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.'
The former England international was suspended by Sunderland pending the outcome of the police investigation after he was initially arrested at his £1.85million mansion on March 2 on suspicion of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
Culled from Dailymail UK
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