Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson 'released from prison'

Speaking briefly at Adam Johnson's gated mansion in Castle Eden, Co Durham, his father Dave agreed it was good to have him back.

Mr Johnson said the ex-footballer may make a statement later and asked reporters to leave.

The father was seen driving off in a blacked-out people carrier minutes later, past photographers waiting at the top of the private lane.

• Could Adam Johnson play football again? Analysis by Scott Wilson

The former Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Manchester City winger was sentenced to six years for engaging in sexual activity with a besotted 15-year-old fan in 2016.

Johnson's father, Dave Johnson, was seen driving a Mercedes people carrier with blacked-out rear windows out of HMP Moorland, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in the early hours of Friday morning.

The vehicle was followed out the prison complex by a police van.

The same car was later spotted arriving at Johnson's mansion in Castle Eden, County Durham.

Signs outside HMP Moorland in Doncaster from where disgraced former footballer Adam Johnson is thought to have left earlier this morning after serving three years for child sex offences. Picture: PA

Friday's release comes exactly halfway through the player's six-year sentence.

Johnson admitted kissing the girl but denied her claim that he touched her inside her pants and that she then performed oral sex on him.

A jury found him guilty of sexual activity with a child in relation to "digital penetration" but cleared him of the same offence relating to the oral sex.

He had already admitted another charge of sexual activity with a child in relation to kissing and also of grooming the girl.

The judge said Johnson had lied repeatedly, referring to the controversy over whether he delayed his guilty pleas to enable him to continue his £60,000-a-week career with Sunderland.

• Peter Beardsley charged with racial abuse

As a sex offender, Johnson will have to register his address and bank details with police and inform officers of any intention to travel abroad.

The children's services department from the local council may also carry out risk assessments in relation to Johnson's daughter Ayla, and could prevent Johnson from spending time alone with his daughter.

NSPCC Head of Policy Almudena Lara said: "Johnson bombarded his victim with crude, sexual messages and a gaping loophole meant it was legal for him to do so. He used his explicit messages to groom her, then he went on to meet and sexually assault her.

"After the NSPCC campaigned for Government to fix this dangerous flaw, ministers finally made online grooming illegal in 2017 and now any adult who sends a child sexual messages will feel the full force of the law.

"More than 5,000 grooming crimes have since been recorded by police in England and Wales. Now people like Johnson can no longer get away with sending school children sexual messages."