Raheem Sterling was in the passenger seat when police arrived on the scene of the crash
ByDave GilyeatSouth of England and Briony Leylandin Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court
Former England footballer Raheem Sterling has admitted dangerous driving on a motorway before he crashed a Lamborghini in May.
The 31-year-old, from Berkshire, also admitted possessing nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
Sterling, who appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court, was arrested after crashing near the M3 in Hampshire on the morning of 28 May.
Sterling has 82 England caps, the last of which was won at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Footage has been released of the former footballer driving dangerously
The former England winger pleaded guilty to driving a Lamborghini Urus dangerously on the M25, the M3, the A327 and Minley Road before he crashed.
The court heard he strayed into the central reservation of the M3, exited at junction 4A, and veered off the A327, crashing into “roadside infrastructure” in a layby.
The crash caused “substantial” damage to his car and all four wheels, which prevented him from driving further, the court heard.
He was in possession of six canisters of nitrous oxide, a Class C drug.
Prosecutor Simon Jones said that between 7:45 and 8:52 police received a number of calls about dangerous driving on the two motorways.
Sterling made eight appearances for Feyenoord earlier this year
When police arrived on the scene of the collision Sterling was in the passenger seat of the car with two nitrous oxide canisters on his lap, the court was told.
Witnesses described seeing a Lamborghini driver inhaling from a white balloon.
Fiona Jennings, who saw the vehicle on the M3 at 8:45, said she looked across and thought that an airbag had inflated, but then realised it was an inflated balloon.
She told police she saw “absolutely horrendous driving” as the Lamborghini swerved in and out of lanes.
“She had genuine concerns the driver might kill someone,” Jones said.
Sterling arrived at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon
Sterling complied with a road side breath test, which was negative, and a preliminary drug test, which indicated no cannabis or cocaine.
However, tests carried out at the Basingstoke police investigation centre deemed that he was impaired.
During the process he disclosed to custody staff “he had a problem with nitrous oxide”, Jones said.
A sample of blood could only be taken with his consent, which he did not give.
Sterling asked to obtain legal advice before making a decision, Mr Jones said, but in the police sergeant’s view “he was deliberately failing to provide a clear answer”.
Sterling was in possession of six canisters of nitrous oxide, a Class C drug
In the police interview that followed, Sterling accepted he had been the driver, and provided “no comment” answers to the driving.
Defending Sterling, Jason Bartfeld KC said there was no dispute that the case was a “top category” because of the “at times” serious impairment, though it would have been for short periods within the driving.
But the defence did not accept the damage to the car was serious, and said there was “confusion” over the failure to provide a specimen.
Hampshire Police previously said the charges followed a single-vehicle collision near the M3 southbound, near the Minley interchange.
The force said no other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported.
The former England footballer crashed in a layby just off the M3
Sterling most recently played for Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie, having left Chelsea in January, but made just eight appearances in the Netherlands.
In four years at Chelsea – including a season-long loan at Arsenal – he made 59 league appearances after signing from Manchester City in 2022.
With City he won four Premier League titles, having started his senior career with Liverpool before moving to Manchester in 2015.
He is currently without a club.
In the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Sterling was made an MBE for services to racial equality in sport.
Sterling, who was seen listening attentively in the dock, was granted unconditional bail.
District Judge Kirsty Allman ordered a pre-sentence report to be carried out before the next hearing, where she will determine whether to sentence at the magistrates’ court or send it to crown court.
Sterling will next appear in court on 25 November, and has been disqualified from driving in the interim.
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