Raheem Sterling pleads guilty to dangerous driving before Lamborghini crash

Former England winger Raheem Sterling has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after admitting he drove a Lamborghini dangerously on several roads before crashing in Hampshire in May.

The 31-year-old also admitted possessing nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court.

Sterling was arrested after the single-vehicle crash near the M3 on May 28. The court heard that he had driven dangerously on the M25, M3, A327 and Minley Road before losing control and crashing into roadside infrastructure in a layby.

Witnesses reported dangerous driving

Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court that police received several reports of dangerous driving between 7:45am and 8:52am, reports BBC Sport.

One witness said she saw the Lamborghini swerving between lanes on the M3 at around 8:45am. She initially thought an airbag had deployed before realising Sterling was holding an inflated balloon.

The court heard that Sterling strayed into the central reservation of the M3 before exiting at junction 4A and later veering off the A327.

The impact caused substantial damage to the Lamborghini Urus, including damage to all four wheels, leaving the vehicle unable to continue.

Police found Sterling in the passenger seat when they arrived, with two nitrous oxide canisters on his lap. He was later found to have six canisters in his possession.

Sterling banned from driving

Sterling passed a roadside breath test, while a preliminary drug test showed no indication of cannabis or cocaine. However, further assessment at Basingstoke police investigation centre found that he was impaired.

The court was also told that Sterling disclosed he had “a problem with nitrous oxide” but did not consent to a blood sample being taken.

His defence lawyer, Jason Bartfeld KC, accepted the case was in the “top category” because of the serious impairment at certain points, although he argued that the impairment was for relatively short periods. The defence also disputed the seriousness of the damage to the vehicle and raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the specimen charge.

Sterling was granted unconditional bail and has been disqualified from driving in the interim.

District Judge Kirsty Allman ordered a pre-sentence report before his next hearing on November 25, when she will decide whether to sentence him at the magistrates’ court or refer the case to the Crown Court.

Sterling, who has 82 England caps, is currently a free agent after spending the latter part of last season with Feyenoord.