Raheem Sterling faces potential two-year prison sentence
Former Premier League star Raheem Sterling could be sentenced to two years in prison if convicted of dangerous driving following his Lamborghini crash in late May. The former England international also faces charges of possessing laughing gas and failing to provide a sample following his arrest.
Former Premier League star Raheem Sterling could be sentenced to two years in prison if convicted of dangerous driving following his Lamborghini crash in late May. The former England international also faces charges of possessing laughing gas and failing to provide a sample following his arrest.
Drivers alerted emergency services after observing a black luxury SUV swerving on the M3 in Hampshire shortly before 9:00 AM. Sterling was arrested near a junction in the Farnborough area and was initially due to appear in court on Friday as part of his bail conditions, but will now appear at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on September 15.
A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary stated:
"A driver will appear in court next month following a collision on the M3. Raheem Sterling, 31, of Berkshire, has been charged with dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for unlawful inhalation, and failing to provide a sample. The charges relate to a single-vehicle collision involving a Lamborghini on the M3 southbound, near the Minley junction, on May 28, 2026. No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported."
Nitrous oxide, also known as "laughing gas," was classified in the UK as a Class C controlled substance in November 2023. Its use remains common among footballers, despite health risks that include brain damage, stroke, and heart attacks.
Sterling joined Liverpool from the Queens Park Rangers academy at age 15 and later became a fan favorite at Anfield. In 2015, he moved to Manchester City, where he won four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and the FA Cup.
After moving to Chelsea in 2022 for £50 million, his status declined significantly. He was later excluded from first-team training, loaned to Arsenal, and then moved to Feyenoord. At the end of the last season, his time in the Netherlands concluded, and he is currently a free agent.
Sources close to the player claim his mental state has suffered recently:
"He was a significant national team player who helped England achieve great things over the last decade, and yet they made him feel worthless," one of them said.
Since the accident, Sterling has kept a low profile and has barely been seen in public, except for social media videos where he plays football with his children. He is engaged to 30-year-old Paige Milian, and the two have two children together. Sterling also has a daughter from a previous relationship.
