Raheem Sterling Admits to Dangerous Driving and Nitrous Oxide Possession

Raheem Sterling has admitted driving a Lamborghini dangerously on a series of major roads before crashing on a motorway in May.

The 31-year-old appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to driving a Lamborghini Urus dangerously on the M25, the M3, the A327 and Minley Road on 28 May.

He also admitted possessing six nitrous oxide cannisters for wrongful inhalation – a class C drug – and failing to provide a specimen.

Sterling, dressed in a black suit jacket, black trousers, black shoes and a dark top, listened as the charges were outlined in the Hampshire courtroom.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the case stemmed from a single-vehicle collision on the M3 southbound, near the Minley interchange, on 28 May. No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported.

It marks a stark off-field chapter in the career of a player who has been a central figure for England over the past decade. Sterling scored 20 goals in 82 appearances for his country, playing a key role in Gareth Southgate’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final.

Career Journey

His journey began in the academy at QPR before a breakthrough at Liverpool, where he made his senior debut and emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest young forwards.

A move to Manchester City in 2015 elevated him to serial winner status. Sterling collected four Premier League titles, five League Cups and the 2019 FA Cup during a trophy-laden spell under Pep Guardiola.

He left City for Chelsea in 2022, but his influence waned at Stamford Bridge. After falling out of favour, he spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Arsenal, then joined Feyenoord on a short-term deal until the end of last season. He is currently without a club.

Off-Field Impact

Sterling’s reputation has long extended beyond the pitch. In the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours, he was made an MBE for services to racial equality in sport, recognised for fronting anti-racism and anti-discrimination campaigns and speaking out forcefully against abuse in football and wider society.

Now, as he weighs his next move in a club career suddenly at a crossroads, he must first deal with the consequences of a dangerous night on the motorway.