Footballer who molested teen says sorry... 3 years after going to prison

DISGRACED footballer Adam Johnson yesterday began a desperate attempt to repair his public image.

The former England star was released from custody less than two weeks ago after serving half of a six-year prison sentence for grooming and sexual activity with a besotted teenage fan.

Until now Johnson, 31, had kept a lowprofile at the £2million mansion he built for himself in Castle Eden, County Durham. But yesterday he issued a statement saying he ‘would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my remorse for my actions’.

Johnson, right, continued: ‘I am very sorry for the effect my conduct had. It should never have happened and I deeply regret what I did.’

He also thanked members of the public who supported him. He was earning £60,000 a week when sacked by Sunderland at the start of his trial but appears to have little hope of returning to the professional game here. No English clubs have expressed interest in signing him.

Johnson was freed from HMP Moorland in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on March 22 and has stayed at his luxury home with his family since then.

He faces the same tight restrictions as any other convicted sex offender and is likely to be allowed only supervised contact with his four-year-old daughter.

Three years ago Johnson admitted grooming and kissing a girl of 15 but denied going any further. However, jurors at Bradford Crown Court found him guilty of sexually touching her in his car.

He has also admitted cheating on his partner and mother of his child, Stacey Flounders, with a number of female fans. The couple have since split.