Sunderland winger charged with sex offense

Sunderland winger, Adam Johnson has been charged with three offences of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and one of grooming.

Police arrested the former Manchester City player in March and, despite initially being suspended by Sunderland, returned to play for the Black Cats against West Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

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.

"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."

Johnson joined Sunderland in 2012 and has scored 20 times in 116 games for the club.