text: Charged with four offences: Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson arrives to answer bail at Peterlee police station in County Durham yesterday . An England footballer was yesterday charged with grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. Adam Johnson, 27, who plays in the Premier League for Sunderland and has represented his country 12 times, faces a lengthy jail term if he is convicted. The £10million winger was arrested seven weeks ago and learnt his fate during an arranged appointment at Peterlee police station, Durham. Johnson, the father of a three-month-old daughter, has been accused of three offences of sexual activity with a child under 16 and one of grooming. The £50,000-a-week player is due to appear before Peterlee magistrates on May 20 and the case will then be transferred to crown court. His team is playing Arsenal away that evening in the penultimate game of their league battle against relegation. The case threatens to put an end to the talented attacker’s glittering career. Last night, it was not clear if he will be allowed to continue playing before his case is dealt with. Gerry Wareham, of the Crown Prosecution Service, announced the decision to charge Johnson. He said it was in the public interest to charge the footballer and there was a ‘realistic prospect’ of a conviction. Johnson was told of the charges he will face during a 20-minute meeting with detectives. Dressed in a navy tracksuit and white trainers, he emerged grim-faced and walked swiftly out of the police station without commenting before being driven away. He stands accused of three offences of sexual activity with a child, contrary to Section 9 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The offences are said to have taken place between December 30 last year and February 26. He has also been charged with meeting a child following sexual grooming under Section 15 of the Act. Johnson was arrested on March 2 at his six-bedroom, £1.9million home in Castle Eden, near Hartlepool. Court date: Premier League winger Johnson (centre) will appear at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on May 20 . Winger: Johnson (left, with long-time girlfriend Stacey Flounders, and right, in a match against Newcastle United on April 5) has made 31 appearances for Sunderland this season, scoring five goals . He became a father for the first time on January 8 when his girlfriend Stacey Flounders, 25, gave birth to their daughter Ayla Sofia. The alleged sexual activity offences cover a period while she was pregnant and after she gave birth. Johnson was born in Sunderland and raised in Easington, County Durham, before joining Middlesbrough’s youth academy as a 12-year-old. He made his Premier League debut for the club in 2005 and was sold in 2010 to Manchester City. Sunderland signed him for £10million in 2012. Initially the player was suspended after his arrest. But two weeks later, he was allowed back to training and returned to the team under Sunderland’s new manager Dick Advocaat. Home: The Premier League winger was arrested at his mansion (pictured) in County Durham on March 2 . Former Middlesbrough star: Adam Johnson has represented England at senior level 12 times . Adam Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough, where he made his debut in a Uefa Cup game in 2005, aged just 17. Almost six months later, he turned out for the first time in the Premier League, taking part in a 2-1 home win against Arsenal. He was loaned out to Leeds United then Watford, scoring 12 goals in his three-month stay at the Hertfordshire club. On his return to Middlesbrough, he again showed strong form, then made a £7million move to Manchester City in February 2010. In three seasons at the Etihad Stadium, the speedy winger made 97 appearances, helping win the Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield. In August 2012 he moved back to his native North East, to Sunderland, in a £10million deal, and highlights of his time there have included a hat-trick on January 11 last year in a 4-1 away win over Fulham. He said after taking the match ball as a memento: ‘These days don't come along too often unless you're Messi or Ronaldo, so it was nice for me to get that ball as a souvenir to look back on. ‘This is up there with one of my best days of my career along with playing for England, scoring for England.’ He was awarded the Barclays Player of the Month award that month. The 27-year-old has represented England at under-19 and under-21 level, and at senior level 12 times, the last of them in a friendly victory over Italy in August 2012. He has struggled to reproduce his best form on a sustained basis at Sunderland, but endeared himself to the fans with goals in each of the club's three derby victories at Newcastle in as many seasons, including a late winner at St James' Park on December 21 last year. Derby win: Winger Johnson scored a late winner against Newcastle United at St James' Park last December . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
target: Four offences allegedly committed against one girl aged 15 at time .
  27-year-old answered bail at police station in County Durham yesterday .
  Sunderland star had previously had his bail extended for five weeks .