One of the clubbers in the South Wales crash that killed three and seriously injured two others in a car not found for 48 hours is believed to be the son of a star footballer who turned to crime after an addiction to cocaine.
Rafel Jeanne is believed to be the son of former Cardiff City and QPR footballer Leon Jeanne, who was once dubbed Wales’ most promising footballer.
Rafel and his friend Shane Loughlin, 32, both from Cardiff, was in a white VW Tiguan with Sophie Russon, 20, Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, who went missing at 2am on Saturday. Police believe the car was involved in a road traffic collision and came off the A48(M) and appears to have lay undiscovered for 48 hours.
Friends on social media have sent their best wishes to Rafel and his family, including Leon Jeanne, once seen as one of Wales’ great footballing hopes who was sacked by Cardiff City after his life was ‘ruined’ by cocaine addiction.
In 2019 the former footballer was convicted of dangerous driving after being chased by police at 100mph on the same road where his son was found today. In 2015 he was jailed for 30 months for his part in a plot to supply cocaine.
Rafel Jeanne (pictured with the missing car) is believed to be the son of former Cardiff City and QPR footballer Leon Jeanne (right), who was once dubbed Wales’ most promising footballer before being jailed in a drugs case
Rafel and his friends had last been seen in Cardiff in the early hours of Saturday after a night out.
On Monday, a police spokesperson said the VW Tiguan had been recovered just after midnight in the St Mellons area of Cardiff.
Police believe the car was involved in a road traffic collision and came off the A48(M) but it is not clear exactly when that happened.
The A48(M) has been closed in both directions, near to the Cardiff Garden Centre, by the police.
Photographs from the scene show large green fencing and tarpaulin has been erected around the crash site, which is among trees.
People have also started arriving to leave floral tributes to those who died.
‘Three of those who were reported missing have been found deceased, two have been taken to hospital with serious injuries,’ a Gwent Police spokeswoman said.
‘Specialist officers are supporting the families of those involved and enquiries are ongoing.
‘The case has been referred to the IOPC in line with normal procedures.’
Leon Jeanne’s most recent brush with the law came in 2019 in a driving case chillingly close to where his son’s crash took place near to the Cardiff Garden Centre in the St Mellons area of the city.
Jeanne – who was once dubbed Wales’ most promising footballer when he played for Wales under-21s – tried to force his way between two lines of traffic at a red light before jumping out of his car.
Prosecutor Laurence Jones said it started when Jeanne in a Volkswagen Golf undertook an unmarked police car on the busy road – accelerating rapidly and changing lanes.
Mr Jones said: ‘The officer watched in disbelief.’
Jeanne was driving so fast that police could not make out his number plate on busy Western Avenue in Cardiff.
Eve Smith (pictured) is among the group of missing friends. Police are supporting their families
Darcy Ross, 21, (left) and Sophie Russon, 20, (right) are missing alongside another woman and two men. Family say they are ‘worried sick’ and have appealed for help in finding them
Shane Loughlin (left), 32, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, (right) were been reported missing after the women were last seen at 2am on Saturday
The officer described his driving as ‘aggressive’ and estimated he was exceeding 100mph with other cars pulling over to get out of his way.
Jeanne became aware he was being followed by the police – and swerved across chevrons on to the slip road at the last minute to ‘shake them off’.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Jeanne tried to force his way between two vehicles, causing £2,500 worth of damage to a Renault Clio he shunted from behind.
He was caught on camera from a bin lorry lifting the Clio as he tried to push through the gap then jumping out of his car and trying to run away.
The court heard Jeanne thought he was being chased by someone he was in a ‘feud’ with and drove off as he feared for his safety.
Prosecutors said he had previous convictions including taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
Jeanne, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, admitted dangerous driving.
Owen Williams, defending, said he was due to start a painting and decorating course – and asked the judge to hold back from immediate custody.
Jeanne was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to comply with a 12-week curfew. He was disqualified from driving for two years.
In 2017 the bad boy former footballer became embroiled in a hammer bust-up after his son chased another man in a car, a court heard.
Leon Jeanne arrived in his black Mercedes after his son was involved in a ‘dispute’. A court heard police recovered a hammer, piece of wood and bricks from the scene of the ruckus in Llanrumney, Cardiff.
Jeanne arrived when his son son Tremaine was involved in the row with Leighton Simm, 24.
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: ‘Tremaine Jeanne then got out of the car and and approached Simm and started shouting threats to kill him. Simm appeared to be returning the threats to Tremaine saying ‘Let’s fight like men’.’
Cardiff Crown Court heard Tremaine armed himself with a piece of wood while Simm grabbed a hammer from a nearby building site before Jeanne snr arrived.
The former footballer, of St Mellons Cardiff, insisted he was a ‘peacemaker’ but admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
He was handed a 12 month community order and told to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
Tremaine Jeanne and Simm, also both of St Mellons, admitted affray. Jeanne was jailed for eight months and Simm was jailed for six months.
