Raheem Sterling pleads guilty to dangerous driving and laughing gas possession
Raheem Sterling has admitted dangerous driving, possessing nitrous oxide and failing to provide a specimen, and was disqualified from driving.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Raheem Sterling, the former England and Manchester City winger, has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing nitrous oxide and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. The 31-year-old appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on [date not specified in coverage] and admitted the charges.
Police arrested Sterling on 28 May after his black Lamborghini was involved in a crash near the M3 in Hampshire. The court heard that in the seven hours leading up to the arrest, three police forces received calls from concerned drivers who had witnessed the vehicle driving erratically on the M25 and M3. Dashcam footage played in court showed the sports car swerving across lanes. The prosecution said Sterling had been seen inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons while at the wheel. The car eventually crashed into a metal gate near the M3, damaging the front and tyres, but no one was injured.
When police approached the car, they found six canisters of nitrous oxide in his lap. He was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. The court was told Sterling told police he had a problem with nitrous oxide, but his defence barrister said he had taken steps to address his difficulties.
Sterling, who has played for Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, and currently has no club, was handed an interim driving ban and is due to be sentenced in November. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, was made a Class C drug in 2023.
Sterling made more than 220 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 20 goals in 82 England appearances. He has also been subject to racial abuse and was made an MBE in 2021 for services to racial equality in sport.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | GB News | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing nitrous oxide, and failing to provide a specimen. | ||||
| Sterling crashed his Lamborghini into a metal gate near the M3 in Hampshire in May, causing no injuries. | · | |||
| Sterling was disqualified from driving immediately. | · | |||
| Nitrous oxide was made a Class C drug in 2023. | · | · | · | |
| Sterling could face a prison sentence. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
5 News led with the dramatic arrest footage and the sequence of events, giving a straightforward account of the court appearance. It focused on the timeline from the initial police stop to the guilty pleas and the immediate driving ban, without much commentary on his career.
- “This is the moment police approached Raheem Sterling's car on the morning of the 28th of May.”
- “He's been disqualified from driving with immediate effect.”
BBC ONE West covered the legal facts but also placed the story in the wider context of Sterling's career and personal history, including his decline in football and his past experiences of racial abuse. The tone was more reflective, with a commentator expressing sadness at his fall.
- “Sterling is no stranger to making headlines on and off the pitch.”
- “So the diminution of his physical powers, his footballing powers, at, what, 31, 32, it's very sad to see.”
ITV1 concentrated on the court hearing details, including witness reports from other drivers and the potential prison sentence. It highlighted the specific claim that a balloon was blocking Sterling's view of the windscreen, and noted his defence barrister's statement about him addressing his difficulties.
- “Some said they could see Raheem Sterling inhaling from balloons while he was driving, with one describing how a balloon was blocking his view of the windscreen.”
- “He's now been disqualified from driving and will be back in court in November, where he could face a prison sentence.”
GB News took a more opinionated and tabloid approach, focusing on the danger of his actions and his personal circumstances. The panel discussed his wealth, his apparent unhappiness and speculated about a cry for help, while also noting the wider problem of laughing gas use.
- “He could have killed loads of people and he should be ashamed of that, really.”
- “I hope Raheem Sterling is getting the help that he quite obviously needs.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.