The sister of disgraced footballer Adam Johnson has hinted he will soon be released from prison, saying ‘One more Christmas to go’ until they would be reunited.
The England and Sunderland striker was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty in March 2016 of sexually touching a schoolgirl fan who he had groomed online.
Johnson has so far served one year and seven months of his sentence, and remains behind bars at Moorland Prison in Yorkshire.
But his sister Faye Johnson today wrote on Twitter: ‘Merry Christmas everyone. One more Christmas to go and then my brother is home and my family is back together.’
The sister of disgraced footballer Adam Johnson has hinted that he would be released from prison soon
The England and Sunderland striker was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty in March 2016 of sexually touching a schoolgirl fan who he had groomed online. But Faye suggested on Monday there was ‘One more Christmas to go’ until they would be reunited
She included a ‘throwback’ photo of herself and Johnson as children and a heart emoji.
His sister had previously set up a Facebook page urging fans to get behind her brother in his bid to appeal his sentence.
The 29-year-old footballer was briefly moved into solitary confinement for his safety earlier this year after he was recorded bragging about sleeping with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
He was then reportedly tipped off by a fellow inmate that a group were planning to slit his throat with a makeshift knife.
Johnson was left fearful for his life and understood to be drawing up a request to move prisons.
His unpopularity inside the jail comes after the ex-Sunderland winger was filmed whinging to other inmates about how badly he had been treated in April.
Faye Johnson previously suggested Johnson would be released soon, writing on Twitter: ‘not long till we have him home where he belongs’
His sister had previously set up a Facebook page urging fans to get behind her brother in his bid to appeal his sentence
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this year that Johnson’s ex-girlfriend Stacey Flounders, is reportedly ‘struggling to get by’.
Ms Flounders stood by the former England winger during his trial for child sex offences before he was convicted.
But the couple split around the time of the jury’s verdicts and her friends have said she is now struggling financially.
The 27-year-old is working 16 hours a week as an account manager for an IT data firm and supplementing her income with tax credits, The Daily Star reported.
Johnson is due to be released from prison in March 2022 and a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said there was ‘no truth to the claims’ he would be released earlier.
Johnson admitted grooming the girl and one charge of sexual activity with a child, relating to kissing her.
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this year that Johnson’s ex-girlfriend Stacey Flounders, is reportedly ‘struggling to get by’
At the time of his trial – facing accusations of grooming, kissing and touching his victim – Johnson told the jury he was ‘ashamed’ of what he had done.
Moreover he said he felt ‘shame and remorse’ over the way he had behaved – saying he ‘wholeheartedly apologised for the stupidity’ of his actions.
Johnson admitted grooming the girl and one charge of sexual activity with a child, relating to kissing her.
He denied there was any further sexual activity with the girl in his Range Rover when he met up with her in County Durham.
He was cleared of one charge relating to another sexual act.
Johnson told the court: ‘She was blameless and could not have consented. It was all my fault.
‘She was a child and should have been safe in my company. My behaviour was wholly unacceptable.’