Sterling admits dangerous driving on motorway before crash

Former England winger Raheem Sterling, 31, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after crashing his Lamborghini Urus into a metal gate on the A327 near the Minley interchange on the M3 in Hampshire on the morning of 28 May. The court heard he had been travelling at high speed on the M25, M3, A327 and Minley Road before straying into the central reservation and colliding with a barrier in a lay‑by. In addition to the dangerous‑driving charge, Sterling admitted possession of six canisters of nitrous oxide—a Class C drug—and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court, where he was immediately disqualified from driving and scheduled to return to court on 25 November.

The incident drew police attention after witnesses reported seeing the Lamborghini driver inhaling from a white balloon and maneuvering erratically between lanes. One witness, Fiona Jennings, said she initially thought an airbag had inflated on the M3 at 8:45 BST, but then realised it was a balloon, describing the driving as “absolutely horrendous.” Hampshire Police confirmed the crash involved only Sterling’s vehicle, with no other cars or injuries reported. The presence of nitrous oxide, a substance often misused for its euphoric effects, added a drug‑related dimension to the case, prompting charges for wrongful inhalation alongside the traffic offences.

Sterling’s legal troubles come amid a waning football career; he most recently played for Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie after leaving Chelsea in January, having made just eight appearances in the Netherlands. His résumé includes 82 England caps, four Premier League titles with Manchester City, and an MBE for services to racial equality. The court’s decision to disqualify him from driving pending his next appearance underscores the seriousness of the offence and signals potential further repercussions for his professional and personal reputation.

⚡ Effects Interpreter