It’s been 10 years since former England and Manchester City winger Adam Johnson was sent to prison
Adam Johnson’s girlfriend criticised the shamed former footballer’s arrogance and deceit before reconciling with him after his conviction for sexual activity with a minor.
In 2016, the ex-Manchester City and Sunderland player was handed a six-year prison sentence for grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old Sunderland fan. He served half of his sentence in jail before being released on licence in March 2019.
The offence took place in his Range Rover in January 2015 following his grooming of her via social media apps. His long-term partner, Stacey Flounders, initially supported Johnson during his trial but ended their relationship when the full extent of his crimes became apparent.
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She didn’t believe he was a paedophile, telling the Daily Mail in 2019 that he was a sex addict. However, she did label him an “arrogant man” and characterised what he had done as “horrific.”
Regarding her decision to terminate 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.”
However, they reconciled during the pandemic and have settled in their native north-east. A former school friend revealed why Flounders chose to give him another opportunity, 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.”
Having previously resided in a £1.8m six-bedroom property in a gated community, they moved to a more modest £470,000 County Durham home but still enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle. The pair, who share two children together, are reportedly financially secure thanks to Johnson’s football earnings before his imprisonment.
An unnamed family member told the Mail that their lifestyle helped Flounders overcome reservations about their relationship. They said: “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, portrayed him as “happy” and said he “keeps himself busy and has lots of friends.” He’s been seen in local pubs, with locals dubbing him 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 added that he “has finally been tamed” by Flounders.