Premier League footballer Adam Johnson would be a "bit of a paedophile" for going after a 15-year-old girl, a court heard today.

A teenager told the jury she did not at first believe her friend's claims she had had a sexual encounter with the former Sunderland and England star, who has admitted sexual activity with the 15-year-old girl in his black Range Rover.

But the girl told Bradford Crown Court her friend then showed her "20 times" messages on her phone from the 28-year-old father of one.

The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age said: "At first I thought, 'It's definitely not Adam Johnson, then..."

Kate Blackwell QC, prosecuting, asked the witness, giving evidence via a video link: "Why did you not think it was Adam Johnson?"

The girl in a strong north eastern accent replied: "Cos he's, however old he is. And why would he? He's a bit of a paedophile if he's going for a 15...kids and that."

Johnson has pleaded guilty to grooming the girl aged 15, between December 30, 2014 and February 26, 2015, and sexual activity with her, involving kissing on January 30, last year.

But the footballer, who has been capped 12 times for his country, is on trial after denying two further counts of sexual activity with a child.

It is alleged at a second encounter in his car he penetrated her with his finger and she gave him oral sex.

The youngster, a football fan, had an "enormous crush on him" but he "abused his position in society" after the two began exchanging messages on social media, it is alleged.

They initially met up so he could personally sign football shirts for the girl, the court heard.

After this first meeting the two joked in their messages about whether Johnson deserved a "thank you kiss" and they met again, when the sexual activity is alleged to have taken place.