Raheem Sterling pleads guilty to dangerous driving and nitrous oxide possession
Former England winger Raheem Sterling admitted to dangerous driving and possessing laughing gas at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court following a single-vehicle Lamborghini crash on the M3 motorway.
Court appearance and guilty pleas
Former England international footballer Raheem Sterling entered guilty pleas on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, to three separate offences arising from a motorway collision earlier in the year. Appearing before Basingstoke Magistrates' Court, located roughly 50 miles southwest of London, the 31-year-old Berkshire resident admitted to dangerous driving, possessing six canisters of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. Sterling attended the morning court session dressed in a black suit jacket, dark top, black trousers, and black shoes.
During the hearing, the court recorded his admission that he refused to provide an evidentiary breath or blood test to police officers following his arrest. Under United Kingdom legislation, the possession of nitrous oxide, commonly termed laughing gas, constitutes a criminal offence when held with the intent of wrongful inhalation. Sterling entered his guilty pleas on all three counts during his initial appearance at the magistrates' court.
Circumstances of the M3 collision
The charges follow an incident on the morning of 28 May 2026 along the M3 motorway in Hampshire, southern England. Sterling was operating his Lamborghini when the car left the road surface and collided directly with safety barriers along the motorway. Police officers arrived at the crash scene and placed the winger under arrest that same morning.
Following the collision, police secured the scene and initiated an inquiry into the crash and the items located in the vehicle. Hampshire Police formally charged Sterling in August 2026 and released an official summary detailing the findings of the investigation.
No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported.
- Sterling crashes his Lamborghini into M3 motorway barriers in Hampshire and is arrested on the scene
- Hampshire Police formally charge Sterling with dangerous driving, drug possession, and failing to provide a specimen
- Sterling enters guilty pleas on all three counts at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court
International caps and English club career
Sterling made 82 appearances for the England men's senior national team between his debut and his final international match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At the domestic level, the forward launched his professional career after making his senior debut with Liverpool. He remained on Merseyside until 2015, when he completed a transfer to Manchester City.
During his seven-year career at Manchester City, Sterling won four Premier League titles alongside additional domestic silverware at the Etihad Stadium. He departed Manchester City in 2022 to sign with Chelsea. After falling out of favour in West London, Sterling spent the 2024/25 season on loan with Arsenal before concluding his spell in English club football.
Feyenoord spell and free agent status
In February 2026, Sterling signed a short-term agreement with Dutch club Feyenoord to play in the Eredivisie. Over the remainder of the 2025–2026 season, the forward made eight appearances in Rotterdam at De Kuip, providing one assist during his time in the Dutch top flight.
Feyenoord chose not to renew Sterling's contract at the end of the 2025–2026 season, leaving the 31-year-old without a club. The forward has remained a free agent following his departure from the Netherlands. His appearance at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Tuesday concludes the initial hearing on the three motoring and possession charges following his May arrest.
