Footballer faces court over driving offences

Former Leeds United footballer Ian Poveda has appeared in court charged with several driving offences.

Poveda, who currently plays for Atletico Nacional in Colombia's first division, denied four counts of perverting the course of justice and a further two counts of fraud when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court via video link earlier.

The 26-year-old is accused of failing to disclose a driving disqualification in order to obtain insurance, displaying false number plates and conspiring to obtain insurance in someone else's name for a car he intended to drive while disqualified.

Judge Robin Mairs set a trial date of 4 December 2028.

Poveda, whose previous clubs also include Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, appeared in court alongside his co-defendants Adekunle Adeyemi and Anthony Howe.

Adeyemi, 36, is accused of perverting the course of justice, which he denies.

Howe, 63, is accused of fraud, which he denies.

Poveda is charged with four counts of perverting the course of justice between 8 July 2020 and 13 September 2023.

He is also charged with committing fraud on two occasions in 2023 and 2025.

The former England youth international, who has since represented the Colombian national side, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

All three defendants, from London, were granted bail.

Poveda featured for his current club as a substitute in their most recent match on Sunday.

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