English soccer star Adam Johnson has been found guilty of one charge of sexual activity with a child after earlier being cleared on another similar count.
Johnson, 28, a former standout for Sunderland of the Premier League, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one of grooming at Bradford Crown Court on the opening day of his trial on Feb. 10, denying two further charges of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.
MORE: Disgraced athletes | Financial crisis at FIFA
Judge Jonathan Rose asked the jury to reach a unanimous verdict on the remaining charges Wednesday and Johnson was found not guilty of one of the two, relating to the then 15-year-old performing a sex act on him.
Adam Johnson (Getty Images)
The jury was then sent back out to continue deliberating the remaining charge under majority direction, meaning Rose would accept a majority verdict, and Johnson was eventually found guilty.
Jurors returned a majority verdict of 10-2 before Johnson was released on bail for sentencing in two to three weeks. Rose told him to expect a "substantial prison sentence."
Sunderland terminated Johnson's contract following his initial guilty pleas, while sponsor adidas also cut ties with the winger, who has made 12 international appearances for England.
Sunderland suspended Johnson following his arrest and subsequent bail last March, but cleared him to return to first-team duties when his bail was extended by Durham Police. Johnson scored twice in 19 league appearances for Sunderland this season.
The club released a lengthy statement following the verdict in which it said it had been misled by Johnson regarding his defense.
"The club was not advised in advance that Mr. Johnson would plead guilty to any offense," it read in part. "Had the club known that Mr. Johnson intended to plead guilty to any of these charges, then his employment would have been terminated immediately. Indeed, upon learning of the guilty plea on 11 February 2016, the club acted quickly and decisively in terminating Adam Johnson's contract without notice."
Sunderland also expressed sympathy to the victim before adding that team officials would have no further comment on the matter.
"This has been an extremely difficult time for all involved. The victim and her family have endured an unimaginable ordeal in the last 12 months and we trust that they will now be allowed to move on with their lives without further intrusion or public scrutiny."