Manhunt for former football player as police reveal he is wanted for recall to prison

Friday, January 31, 2025 - Police in the UK have launched a manhunt for a former star footballer turned drug dealer.

Leon Jeanne, 44, who played for Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers having started out at Arsenal, aged 10, has been recalled to prison by South Wales Police but has not yet been found.

The police appeal said: "Leonne Jeanne. Age: 44. From Cardiff. Recalled to Prison. Give reference 2500002271."

The former footy star was convicted of dangerous driving in 2019 after being chased by police at 100mph on the same road where his son was found dead.

He was later sent to prison for breaching a curfew.

Four years earlier, in 2015, he had been jailed for 30 months for his part in a plot to supply cocaine.

Leonne began his career with Queens Park Rangers before joining his hometown team Cardiff City.

However, Jeanne suffered from drug and alcohol addiction and was given a two-year suspended ban by the Football Association of Wales after testing positive for a class A drug.

Continued disciplinary problems eventually led to his release from Cardiff.

In June 2011, Jeanne joined then Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion for pre-season training in a bid to earn a contract and play football at a high level once more.

Jeanne started the 2011–12 season playing for Welsh Premier League side Afan Lido but left before the start of the 2012–13 season to join Carmarthen Town.

He would go on to play just six times more for Port Talbot Town before his career sadly came to an end in 2015.