Raheem Sterling pleads guilty to dangerous driving and nitrous oxide possession
The former England footballer admitted driving a Lamborghini dangerously on the M25, M3 and A327 before crashing on 28 May, and also pleaded guilty to possessing nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen.
Raheem Sterling has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation after crashing a Lamborghini on 28 May. The former England footballer entered the pleas at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where he also admitted failing to provide a specimen.
The court heard that Sterling drove a Lamborghini Urus dangerously on the M25, the M3 and the A327 before the crash. No other vehicles were involved in the incident and no injuries were reported, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Sterling, 31, is a former Premier League star who represented England at international level. His appearance at the magistrates' court marks a significant development in a case that has drawn attention because of his public profile and the nature of the charges.
The dangerous driving charge relates to his manner of driving across three major roads before the collision. The nitrous oxide charge concerns possession of the substance for wrongful inhalation, commonly known as laughing gas. The failure to provide a specimen charge is a separate offence that arose from the same incident.
Nitrous oxide was made a Class C controlled drug in the UK in 2023, making possession for wrongful inhalation a criminal offence. The case therefore carries legal significance beyond the driving offences themselves, as it reflects the tightening of rules around the substance.
Sterling's guilty pleas mean the case will proceed to sentencing. The magistrates' court will determine the appropriate penalty, which could include a driving ban, a fine, or other measures. The fact that he admitted all charges avoids the need for a trial.
The crash occurred on 28 May, and the court proceedings have now established his responsibility for the dangerous driving and the related offences. The absence of other vehicles and injuries may be considered mitigating factors, but the charges remain serious.
Sterling's legal team has not commented publicly beyond the court appearance. The case has been reported widely because of his career as a high-profile footballer, but the proceedings themselves are a matter of criminal law rather than sport.
The sentencing hearing will be scheduled, and the outcome will be reported in due course. For now, the guilty pleas bring the factual stage of the case to a close, leaving only the question of penalty.
