Police have started a manhunt for former Arsenal, QPR and Cardiff player Leon Jeanne.
The 44-year-old has been recalled to prison by South Wales Police but is yet to be found.
No further details were given as the police posted his picture and name on social media with the caption: “#Wanted. Age: 44. From: Cardiff. Recalled to Prison. Give reference 2500002271.”
Jeanne was once considered a promising Welsh talent but unfortunately his career did not pan out with huge success.
He was last pictured in 2023 on day release to attend the funeral of his son Rafel, who was one of three killed in a car accident in Cardiff.
Jeanne was wearing a blue Nike tracksuit, handcuffed to his probation officer outside the church.
Former teammate Jay Bothroyd said last year: “He was at Arsenal with me and was the most talented player I’d ever seen at that age. He was unbelievable. But he went off the rails.”
Jeanne was jailed for 30 months in 2015 after plotting to supply cocaine.
In 2017 he then landed himself back in court for his involvement in a fight which included a hammer and brick, which landed him eight months in jail, a 12 month community order and 180 hours of unpaid work.
In 2019 years later he was convicted of dangerous driving for hitting estimated speeds of 100 mph while being chased by police.
Attempting to lose the police he swerved his Volkswagen Golf between traffic and jumped out at a red light, according to prosecutor Laurence Jones.
The car hit speeds so fast the police could not identify the number plate.
Jeanne’s driving was described as ‘aggressive’ by an officer as he caused £2,500 worth of damage to a Renault Clio he hit from behind in an attempt to push through. He then exited the smashed up vehicle and attempted to evade officers on foot.
Jeanne and his lawyer Owen Williams stated that the footballer thought he was being chased by someone he was in a ‘feud’ with and drove off in fear for his safety.
The prosecutors revealed the 44-year-old had prior convictions, including taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
Jeanne admitted dangerous driving and was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to comply with a 12-week curfew, and was given a two year driving ban.
He was released, but then sent to prison for breaching that curfew.
It is not clear if that was his most recent stint in prison, or why he is currently wanted by police.
Jeanne recently spoke on the Central Club podcast from the private prison HMP Parc in Wales, where he described some of his behaviour during his playing career.
He admitted he often missed training to party instead and lied to his coaches about his whereabouts.
“He [the manager] rung me on time he said, ‘Where are you?’ I said ‘Australia’ – [but] I was in Cardiff,” Jeanne said in a clip from the interview.
‘”t was the time I didn’t turn up for Wales, for the first team squad for Wales. I didn’t turn up because I was partying and that.
“I didn’t go to QPR for about two years and they were still paying me and all that and I was out in Cardiff partying for 18 months to two years.”
