Adam Johnson’s girlfriend slammed the disgraced former footballer for his arrogance and deceitful lies, but reconciled with him after he was found guilty of having sex with an underage girl. In 2016, the former Manchester City and Sunderland winger was sentenced to six years in prison for grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old Sunderland supporter.
He served half of his sentence in prison and was released on license in March 2019. The attack happened in January 2015 in his Range Rover after he groomed the girl through a social media app. His longtime partner, Stacey Flounders, initially stood by Johnson’s side in court, but ended their relationship when the full extent of his crimes became known.
She does not consider him a pedophile and told the Daily Mail in 2019 that he was a sex addict. Nevertheless, she labeled him an “arrogant man” and described his behavior as “horrible”.
Reflecting on her decision to end their relationship, she said: “At that moment I realized that Adam was an arrogant man who kept lying to me. He knew how old this girl was. He had sent her hundreds of messages. It was terrifying.”
An anonymous childhood friend revealed why Ms Flanders chose to take him back, telling the Mail: “Mr Flanders chose to take him back. “Stacey knows her own heart and grew up in a very close-knit family. If there was anything that would convince her to give her another chance, it would be to give her children a stable education.”
“After he was released, it didn’t look like they would be able to get back together again, but a year after he was released, the pandemic hit and things gradually changed.
“He missed the early years of his life in prison and was desperate to make up for lost time with his daughter. He is a devoted father and that is why they were able to try again. They now have a second child and are a very happy family.”
The pair, who previously lived in a £1.8 million six-bedroom property in a gated community, have downsized to a much more modest £470,000 home, but are said to still enjoy a comfortable standard of living. The couple have two children and are reportedly in good financial shape thanks to Johnson’s football earnings prior to his incarceration.
An anonymous family member told the Mail that Ms Flanders’ wealthy lifestyle helped her overcome her fears about their relationship, adding: “Money probably played a role.
“He hasn’t worked since he finished his football career. He saved enough money during his playing days that he was able to live a very good life without worrying. They have a great life. The children don’t want anything.”
Johnson’s aunt, Eileen Welsh, described him as “happy” and said he “keeps busy and has lots of friends.” He was spotted in a local pub and residents described him as an “average type”.
Former teammates now describe him as a “typical suburban dad” with a newfound sense of “calmness and acceptance.” They stated that he was “at last tamed” by Flanders.
