Former England international Raheem Sterling pleaded guilty Tuesday to dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen following a single-vehicle crash on the M3 motorway in Hampshire on May 28, according to court proceedings reported by the Associated Press and British media.
Bodycam footage released after the plea hearing showed the 31-year-old sitting in the passenger seat of his crashed £270,000 Lamborghini Urus with nitrous oxide canisters on his lap as officers approached. "You can put that down mate," an officer told Sterling, who appeared dazed in the video . Six canisters were later recovered from the vehicle, along with deflated balloons.
Prosecutors told Basingstoke Magistrates' Court that Sterling had been driving erratically for more than an hour during rush hour, swerving across multiple lanes of the M25 and M3 while inhaling from balloons. Witness Fiona Jennings reported seeing what she initially thought was an airbag before realizing it was a large white balloon held to the driver's face. She described the driving as "absolutely horrendous" and expressed "genuine concern that the driver might kill someone" .
The crash occurred near the Minley Interchange after Sterling's vehicle left the carriageway and struck a gate, blowing out all four tires. No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported . When officers arrived, Sterling initially refused to say who had been driving and asked to make a phone call before providing his name and date of birth .
Court testimony revealed that Sterling failed roadside impairment tests, including walking in a straight line and touching his finger to his nose. He was also asked to estimate 30 seconds with his eyes closed but recorded 52. Prosecutor Simon Jones said Sterling appeared "quiet, withdrawn and lethargic," with "eyelids drooping consistent with fatigue or drug impairment." Sterling told custody staff he had "a problem with nitrous oxide" .
The former Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea forward faces a maximum two-year prison sentence for dangerous driving, though legal experts suggest a sentence of 12 to 18 months is more likely and could potentially be suspended with mitigation . District Judge Kirsty Allman ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the hearing until November 25, when she will determine whether to sentence at the magistrates' court or refer the case to crown court. Sterling was granted unconditional bail and issued an interim driving disqualification .
Why this matters
Sterling's case arrives amid growing concern in the UK over nitrous oxide use behind the wheel. The substance was classified as a Class C drug in 2023, criminalizing possession for wrongful inhalation, as discarded canisters became an increasingly common sight on British streets . A UK charity working to end solvent abuse said the case illustrates the widespread accessibility of the substance. "Whether you're looking at someone high profile like Raheem Sterling or somebody else within the community — it shows the widespread use of nitrous oxide," said Daniel Gibbons of Re-Solv, adding that such cases "unhelpfully trivializes it and makes it a little more socially acceptable" .
Sterling, who earned 82 caps for England between 2012 and 2022 and won four Premier League titles with Manchester City, is currently without a club following his release from Dutch side Feyenoord at the end of last season . His career has been in freefall since leaving Chelsea by mutual agreement in January 2026 after a period training away from the first team .
