Fraudsters used star in bid to buy Doncaster Rovers

POP star Louis Tomlinson unwittingly agreed to act as the public face of a takeover of Doncaster Rovers which was backed by a gang of pension fraudsters.

- BY NICK SOMMERLAD

The One Direction singer launched a crowdfunder aimed at raising £6million of investment for his home town club from his 16 million followers.

It was revealed yesterday that three men behind the failed takeover were convicted for fraud last month. They were told today they are facing jail and "significant sentences are inevitable".

The trial at Leeds Crown Court heard how Tomlinson became involved with the gang in 2014 through DRFC's former chairman John Ryan.

They met at Tomlinson's Cheshire home at the peak of his band's fame.