Raheem Sterling Charged with Dangerous Driving and Nitrous Oxide Possession
Raheem Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving and possession of nitrous oxide after a motorway crash involving a Lamborghini, Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary have confirmed.
The incident took place on the M3 southbound near the Minley interchange on 28 May and involved only Sterling’s vehicle. Police said no one was injured in the single-car collision.
Sterling, 31, faces three charges: dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen. The former England forward, from Berkshire, is due to appear at Basingstoke magistrates court on 15 September.
Career Overview
The case marks a stark turn for a player who, at his peak, stood at the heart of Gareth Southgate’s England. Sterling scored 20 goals in 82 appearances for his country, playing a central role in the run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the final of Euro 2020.
His rise began at QPR’s academy before Liverpool handed him a senior debut and a platform to become one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wide forwards. A move to Manchester City in 2015 elevated him further: four Premier League titles, five League Cups and an FA Cup followed during a glittering spell under Pep Guardiola.
The momentum stalled after his 2022 switch to Chelsea. Sterling gradually slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and spent the 2024–25 season on loan at Arsenal. When that stint ended, he left Chelsea and joined Feyenoord on a short-term deal until the end of last season. He is currently without a club.
Off the Pitch
Away from the pitch, Sterling’s voice has carried weight well beyond football. In the 2021 Queen’s birthday honours he was made an MBE for services to racial equality in sport, recognition for his prominent role in anti-racism and anti-discrimination campaigns and his willingness to speak bluntly about abuse and inequality.
Now, instead of plotting his next move in a long career at the top level, Sterling is preparing for a court date in September that will shape the next chapter of his life just as much as any transfer ever did.
