Adam Johnson's girlfriend shared 'horrific' details before taking shamed footballer back
Former Premier League footballer Adam Johnson was jailed in 2016 for six years.
Adam Johnson's girlfriend hit out at the disgraced former footballer's arrogance and deceitful lies before reconciling with him following his conviction for sexual activity with an underage girl. In 2016, the former Manchester City and Sunderland winger was handed a six-year prison sentence for grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old Sunderland supporter.
He served half of his sentence behind bars before being released on licence in March 2019. The offence took place in his Range Rover in January 2015 after he had groomed the girl via social media apps. His long-term partner, Stacey Flounders, initially stood by Johnson throughout his court case before ending the relationship once the full extent of his crimes became apparent.
She did not consider him a paedophile, telling the Daily Mail in 2019 that he was a sex addict. Nevertheless, she did label him an "arrogant man" and described his actions as "horrific."
Reflecting on her decision to walk away from the relationship, she said: "I knew then that Adam was an arrogant man who had lied and lied. He'd known this girl's age. He'd sent her hundreds of messages. It was horrific."
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However, the couple rekindled their romance during the pandemic and have since resettled in the north-east.
An unnamed childhood friend shed light on why Flounders chose to take him back, telling the Mail: "Stacey knows her own mind and grew up in a very close family. If anything persuaded her to give him another chance, it will have been to give their children a stable upbringing.
"After he was released, it didn't look as though they were going to get back together, but the pandemic struck a year after he got out and that gradually changed things.
"He was anxious to make up for lost time with his daughter, having missed the early part of her life in jail. He's a committed dad and that's why they were able to try again. They now have a second child and they are very much a happy family."
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Having previously lived in a £1.8m six-bedroom property within a gated community, the pair downsized to a considerably more modest £470,000 home, though they are said to still enjoy a comfortable standard of living. The couple, who share two children, are reportedly in a strong financial position, owing to Johnson's football earnings before his imprisonment.
An unnamed family member told the Mail that their affluent lifestyle helped Flounders to overcome any reservations about their relationship, saying: "Money will have played a part.
"He hasn't worked since he ended his football career. He put away enough money during his playing career that they can live a very good lifestyle without worrying. They have a nice life, the children won't want for anything."
Johnson's aunt, Irene Welsh, described Johnson as "happy" and said he "keeps himself busy and has lots of friends." He has been seen in local pubs, with residents describing him as a "Mr Average type."
A former team-mate characterised him now as a "typically suburban dad" with a newfound sense of "calm and acceptance." They remarked that he "has finally been tamed" by Flounders.
