Sky News Newsdesk @ SkyNewsBreak 2m2 minutes ago
Adam Johnson pleads guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child & one count of grooming but denies two charges of sexual activity
You would think he would have WAGS lining up. Why go for an underaged girl?
Cos he’s attracted to kids perhaps?
Does he have previous?
Probably - as they say in legal terms!
These are rarely isolated incidents.
I was talking to an officer once who dealt with serious sex offences and he explained how they only had a brief to charge the persistent offenders, so when family man stands up in court and says it was a one-off when they were drunk/confused/misled, they were in fact talking absolute bollocks and had a list of cautions as long as their…arm.
Just seen a picture of his girlfriend. It seems odd that he would go for a 15 year old as well. It said she was standing by him. Why would you?
Love (and/or money) can do strange things to a persons decision making.
There’s going to be a school of thought that it could have been a lot worse. Fifteen year olds are unfortunately, quite common out and about in nightclubs. If Johnson had waited a year, he’d be facing no charges. That said, I’d have been livid if it had been one of my daughters, and he knew that what he was doing is wrong.
I say this as a long-term supporter of the “Goldilocks” clause. I don’t think sixteen year old lads should go on the sex offenders register because the parents of a fifteen year old girl get the hump over a hump. Big difference between the hypothetical sixteen year old and Johnson.
I do think it is amazing how attitudes have changed for the better in the last 30 years, though. I remember when Bill Wyman was in the news for dating a 13 year old. The prevailing attitude of the day seemed to be “let them get on with it”.
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Legal doesn’t always make it right.
I always wonder about a bloke in his 40s or 50s who only wants to go out with 16-18 year olds.
An innocent appreciation of youth perhaps, or a fear of experienced women and an obsession with control?
Go on, how many on here have I offended with that?..
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There is a european country out there (i cant remember which) that take a more sensible approach to this IMO. they have an age range they apply to underage sex, so if a 16 yr old boy sleeps with his 15 yr girl friend then he is not a criminal, however if the lad was more a certain number of years older than the girl then it would be criminal.
Then again I don’t have daughters
I dont get this either - much prefer 19 yr olds
The Netherlands, iirc.
Johnson would still be prosecuted there, I believe.
Originally posted by @pap
There’s going to be a school of thought that it could have been a lot worse. Fifteen year olds are unfortunately, quite common out and about in nightclubs. If Johnson had waited a year, he’d be facing no charges. That said, I’d have been livid if it had been one of my daughters, and he knew that what he was doing is wrong.
If Johnson has admitted to grooming, that suggests it wasn’t just a case of picking up a 15 year old in a club.
I say this as a long-term supporter of the “Goldilocks” clause. I don’t think sixteen year old lads should go on the sex offenders register because the parents of a fifteen year old girl get the hump over a hump. Big difference between the hypothetical sixteen year old and Johnson.
It’d be pretty rare for there to be a prosecution in this case. Not really in the ‘public interest’ to bring such charges against the boy.
I do think it is amazing how attitudes have changed for the better in the last 30 years, though. I remember when Bill Wyman was in the news for dating a 13 year old. The prevailing attitude of the day seemed to be “let them get on with it”.
Thank goodness for that too.
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The age of consent changes all over the planet. Once upon a time you could consent as soon as you had your first period. Many 14 and 15 year olds have the bodies of women and act like women, even if the law says they are still children. Legally both a 16 year old and a 30 year old are guilty of a crime if they have sex with a girl of 15, even if consensual. Should a man of 30 be thought of as a sex offender when a guy of 16 isnt? I get the whole public interest thing but I also feel uneasy about saying it is okay of a 16 year old boy but not for an older person.
Many of us of a certain age will remember the old black and white St Trinian films. I seem to remember a number of sexy schoolgirls in short skirts and stockings (just as well you cant be arrested for what you are thinking!)
Because it really isn’t the same thing?
A 15 y/o Boy/Girl sleeping with a 16 year is in no way comparable to a 30 year.
The two teenagers could be in the same class at school. Maybe a couple of months or weeks apart in age.
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I agree KRG but I also feel sad for people who seem happy to extend their boundaries when cash is involved. I also find it hard for people to go on loving someone when they are publically humilated. What does that say about their self esteem? If I cheated on my wife I would expect to get hell and would not blame her for leaving. I wouldnt expect her to stand by me.
But the law doesnt say anything about age for those commiting the offence. It says that it is illegal for someone to have sex with a person under 16. I do agree that a 30 year old shouldnt be going there…but what if they were serious and planned to get married?
Should add that if Johnson had waited to sleep with her on her 16th birthday would it still be an issue?
I’m sure that is the case for many people. Likewise, there are plenty that stand by someone where infidelty has occured. It’s unpleasant, but it’s a different discussion to a man in his late 20’s sleeping with a 15 y/o.