Raheem Sterling Charged with Dangerous Driving and Possession of Nitrous Oxide

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 other cars were caught up in the collision and no injuries were reported.

Sterling, 31, faces three charges: dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen. He 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, sat at the heart of England’s modern era. Sterling scored 20 goals in 82 games for his country, a key figure in Gareth Southgate’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final.

His rise began in the academy at QPR before a move to Liverpool, where he made his senior breakthrough. In 2015 he joined Manchester City and became one of the defining forwards of the Premier League era, winning four league titles, five League Cups and the FA Cup under Pep Guardiola.

The momentum slowed after his 2022 move to Chelsea. As his influence faded at Stamford Bridge, he spent the 2024–25 season on loan at Arsenal, then left for a short-term spell with Feyenoord until the end of last season. He is currently without a club.

Off the Pitch

Off the pitch, Sterling has been one of English football’s most prominent voices against racism. In the 2021 Queen’s birthday honours he was awarded an MBE for services to racial equality in sport, recognition for his role in fronting anti-racism and anti-discrimination campaigns and for speaking out forcefully about abuse in stadiums and online.

Now, instead of transfer talks or international recalls, his immediate future will be shaped in a courtroom in Basingstoke.