Footballer Adam Johnson has lost first stage of his appeal for child sex conviction- Sister says

Former Sunderland footballer star Johnson was jailed for six years early this year after engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl fan but his sister Faye Johnson has now revealed that he has lost the first stage of his appeal but says he won't be deterred.

The England disgraced winger's sister Faye posted a message on Twitter, saying:

 'Absolutely devastated that the single judge has rejected my brother's appeal against sentence and conviction. But I can assure every supporter that it has made me stronger and I will never give up.' 

It is understood his sister's comments refer to the first stage of the appeal process, in which one judge looks at the case before deciding whether to put it before three appeal court judges.

Johnson can still apply to the full court to look at the case again, but the single judge's rejection means he will not receive public funding for the appeal and if it goes through he will have to fund the appeal case from his own pockets.