Overview

• Prosecutors told Leeds Crown Court the failed takeover was used to explain away missing pension cash to police.
• About £3.7 million was taken from more than 200 pension pots over two years, and victims received roughly £1.3 million.
• The 2014 crowdfunder raised about £600,000, including a £500,000 loan traced to a company run by one of the gang.
• The proposed deal would have transferred 70% of Doncaster Rovers to Belize-based Sequentia Capital SA, which the court heard drew on stolen pension funds.
• Louis Tomlinson and ex-chairman John Ryan are not alleged to have known of the fraud, and Kevin Phelan, Daniel Giles and Adrian Bashforth are due to be sentenced in January.