By SCN Sports Desk
BASINGSTOKE, England, Sept 15 (SCN News) — Former England footballer Raheem Sterling pleaded guilty on Tuesday to dangerous driving after crashing a Lamborghini on a motorway in southern England, as well as admitting possession of nitrous oxide and failing to provide a specimen.
Sterling, 31, entered the pleas at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court in Hampshire. The dangerous-driving charge covered his driving of a Lamborghini Urus on the M25, M3, A327 and Minley Road before the vehicle crashed on May 28.
He also admitted possessing six nitrous oxide canisters for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen. Nitrous oxide is classified as a Class C controlled drug in Britain when possessed for wrongful inhalation.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the charges followed a single-vehicle collision on the southbound M3 close to the Minley Interchange. No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported, according to police.
Sterling appeared in court on Tuesday after police announced the charges in August. At that stage, he faced counts of dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen, all arising from the May collision.
The guilty pleas mark a significant development from the initial case because Sterling has now formally admitted all three offences rather than merely facing allegations. The case also moves attention from whether the offences occurred to the court's handling of the admitted conduct.
Sterling is one of the most prominent English footballers of his generation. He scored 20 goals in 82 appearances for England and was part of the side that reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final.
He began his senior career with Liverpool before moving to Manchester City in 2015, where he won four Premier League titles. Sterling joined Chelsea in 2022 and later spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Arsenal before a short spell with Dutch club Feyenoord. He is currently without a club.
Sterling was also appointed an MBE in 2021 for services to racial equality in sport after becoming one of English football's most prominent voices against racism and discrimination.
Tuesday's court appearance, however, centred on the May motorway incident and the three criminal charges arising from it. With Sterling having entered guilty pleas, the proceedings now move beyond the charging stage, with further court action determining the consequences of the offences.