Party for a paedophile: Former English Premier League footballer arrives home from prison

Adam Johnson was today seen arriving at his home alongside a van full of wine. Photo / Getty Images.

The sister of disgraced footballer Adam Johnson was today seen arriving at his home alongside a van full of wine, as family celebrations continue following his release from prison.

Faye Johnson, who defended her brother with a #TeamAJ Facebook campaign after his 2016 conviction, was pictured being driven to the 31-year-old footballer's seven-bedroom mansion, located in an upmarket village in County Durham, this afternoon.

It comes just days after she was seen with 'welcome home balloons', amid reports she had been planning a party for her brother to celebrate his release from prison on Friday.

And also today, a Majestic Wine van was spotted outside the Johnson home - which has a bowling alley, swimming pool and football nets in the back garden.

She is just one of a number of visitors to the former Sunderland winger's home, with his father, Dave Johnson, telling tje Daily Mail: 'We are glad to have him home.'

Also visible outside the Johnson home today was a police van, with the footballer now subject to strict licence conditions, including keeping in touch with a supervisor and living permanently at his address.

The former Sunderland winger, now 31, served just half of the six-year sentence behind bars. He was jailed for grooming, kissing and touching a 15-year-old fan.

Adam Johnson is believed to have been released from HMP Moorland prison in Doncaster after serving half of a six-year sentence for engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old. pic.twitter.com/S0WrpsRNEu

— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) March 22, 2019

He remains on licence and, as part of his release conditions, he will no longer be permitted to spend time alone with his daughter.

Johnson's seven-bedroom home is said to have a bowling alley, swimming pool and football nets in the back garden.

He lives 100 yards away from his his father and mother, Sonia. His sister Faye also lives in the village.

The home Johnson shared with his ex girlfriend Stacey Flounders and their daughter Ayla at the time of his arrest has since been bought by cricketer Ben Stokes.

Johnson's sister supported him throughout his 2016 trial, and in the months after, launching a campaign to appeal his conviction of child sex offences after grooming a 15-year-old girl.

She also sparked appeals on Facebook and Twitter using the phrase 'Justice for Johnson' and the hashtag #TeamAJ.

But Johnson, who once played for England, now faces an uphill battle to try to resurrect his football career, after all of the football league clubs in the area of his home told the Mail they would not contemplate signing him.

It is understood Johnson had to meet with probation workers yesterday. He has not been issued with a criminal tag but will be subject to strict licence conditions, including keeping in touch with a supervisor and living permanently at his address.

He will only be allowed to take up work if his supervisor approves it, and police will examine any overseas travel plans before he is allowed to leave the UK.

Johnson will also have more stringent conditions under the terms of the sex offenders' register, which he will sign for at least 15 years.

As well as not being permitted to see his daughter or other children unsupervised, he will have to hand over his bank card in order to prevent him accessing paid-for porn sites.

A neighbour said: 'He has been a stupid boy but he has served his time in prison and he's entitled to start again. What he did was very foolish of course but there are much worse crimes committed.'

Children's charity the NSPCC said on Friday that Johnson's case had helped bring about an implementation of laws against grooming.