Raheem Sterling, 31, has been charged with dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide, and failing to provide a specimen following a May 28 incident involving his £270,000 Lamborghini. If convicted, Sterling faces up to two years in prison.
Police were called to the M3 in Hampshire around 9 a.m. on May 28 after reports of a Lamborghini swerving across the road. Footage obtained by the Daily Mail appeared to show the driver inhaling from a balloon, a common method for ingesting nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.
Momentarily after the vehicle was observed swerving, it crashed into motorway barriers. Sterling was arrested at the scene. The force also stated that Sterling refused to provide a sample after his arrest, leading to the third charge.
A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed to The Sun that Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen. The charges relate to a single-vehicle collision on the M3 southbound near the Minley Interchange on May 28, 2026.
Sterling is scheduled to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on September 15. These charges come after a period of career difficulties for the player, who left Chelsea in January and has not played since May 2024. He joined Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam in February, but his contract ended in the summer, leaving him without a club.
A motorist who provided dashcam footage told the Daily Mail that the Lamborghini "was all over the place" and that the driver "could have easily caused himself - and others - a great deal of harm." The motorist, a driving instructor, expressed concern, stating, "He was very fortunate that he did not do so."
A source close to Sterling described the past two years as "hellish," citing immense psychological strain, isolation, and constant criticism as contributing factors. The source suggested Sterling moved to the Netherlands to escape negativity and rediscover his passion for the game, but the challenges persisted.
Sterling began his career at QPR before breaking through at Liverpool. He later moved to Manchester City, where he won ten major trophies, including four Premier League titles. He also represented England 82 times, with his last appearance in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. His tenure at Chelsea, which began with a £50 million transfer in 2022, was followed by a loan spell with Arsenal and a move to Feyenoord, where he made limited appearances without scoring.