Raheem Sterling Charged With Dangerous Driving and Nitrous Oxide Possession

Former England international footballer Raheem Sterling is scheduled to appear in court next month after being charged with multiple traffic and drug offences following a car crash in southern England. The 31-year-old sports figure, whose residence is listed in Berkshire, was formally charged by police after his vehicle crashed into safety barriers along a major motorway earlier this year.

According to official statements provided by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, Sterling faces three specific counts: dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen. The charges follow an investigation into a single-vehicle collision that took place on the morning of Thursday, May 28, 2026. The incident occurred on the southbound stretch of the M3 motorway, in close proximity to the Minley Interchange in Hampshire, when Sterling lost control of his Lamborghini and struck the road barriers.

Law enforcement officials reported that no other vehicles were involved in the accident and that no injuries were sustained by Sterling or any members of the public. Following the crash, Sterling was taken into custody by police officers and subsequently released on bail while investigators conducted further enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the event. Police have confirmed that Sterling is due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on September 15 to face the charges.

At the time of the incident, police had initially suspected Sterling of driving a vehicle while unfit through drugs. However, that specific allegation was not included among the formal charges later filed against him. In May, an unnamed source close to the footballer spoke to media representatives to defend him, asserting that there was “no proof” that any drugs were present in his system. The same source also addressed Sterling’s recent difficulties in his personal and professional life, remarking that the player had experienced “an extremely tough couple of years” and had been made to “feel worthless” as well as “forgotten about.”

Sterling is currently unattached to any professional club after leaving Dutch Eredivisie team Feyenoord at the conclusion of the most recent season. He had signed a short-term contract with the Dutch side in February following his departure from English Premier League club Chelsea by mutual consent. Sterling featured in eight matches for Feyenoord before his contract expired.

Background

Sterling built a prominent career in English football over more than a decade, earning 82 international caps for the England national team between 2012 and 2022. During his international career, he represented his country at three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships.

At the club level, the former Liverpool winger spent seven years with Manchester City, winning four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and one FA Cup. He transferred to Chelsea in 2022 for £47.5 million. In 2024, he joined Arsenal on loan before returning to Chelsea in 2025, where he was excluded from the first-team squad and required to train separately prior to his eventual departure.