Raheem Sterling arrives at Basingstoke court to face dangerous driving charge

Raheem Sterling walked into Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon to face his first judicial hearing since being formally accused of dangerous driving. The 31-year-old ex-England international, currently on the books of Dutch club Feyenoord, is also charged with possessing nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen, all stemming from an incident on 28 May.

• Sterling arrived at the Hampshire court wearing black trousers, black shoes and a dark top.
• The charges follow a single-vehicle collision on the southbound M3 near the Minley interchange.
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed no other cars were involved and no injuries were reported.
• After his initial arrest, a spokesperson for the player said he had been made to feel 'worthless' and 'forgotten about' in recent years.
• Sterling, from Berkshire, won four Premier League titles with Manchester City and spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Arsenal.

What happened in the M3 motorway incident

The accusations against the footballer trace back to a road crash on the southbound side of the M3, close to the Minley interchange. Police in Hampshire stated that only Sterling's own car was involved in the collision and that nobody sustained injuries as a result of the incident.

Sterling's court appearance in Basingstoke

The Berkshire-born player arrived at the magistrates' court dressed entirely in black and did not speak to reporters as he entered the building. This marks his first appearance before a judge since the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges of dangerous driving, an offence that can carry a prison sentence in England, and possession of laughing gas for recreational use, which the UK government criminalised in 2023.

The career of an elite England international

Sterling came through the academy ranks at Queens Park Rangers before moving to Liverpool, where he made his senior debut. His breakthrough arrived in 2015 with a transfer to Manchester City, a club where he lifted four Premier League trophies, five League Cups and the FA Cup in 2019. For England, he scored 20 goals in 82 appearances and helped Gareth Southgate's side reach the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final.

From Chelsea exit to a fresh start at Feyenoord

After his successful spell at City, Sterling joined Chelsea in 2022 but gradually fell out of favour at Stamford Bridge. He spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Arsenal before severing ties with the west London club in February, when he signed a short-term deal with Feyenoord in the Netherlands. During his time in Rotterdam, he made eight appearances in the Dutch top flight.

An MBE honour and concerns over his wellbeing

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Sterling was appointed MBE for his work on racial equality in sport. The recognition came amid controversy over England supporters booing players who took the knee before matches as a gesture against intolerance. Despite that public honour, those close to the player said after his arrest that he had experienced a deep sense of being undervalued in recent years.

Following his initial arrest, a representative for the player stated that Sterling had been made to feel 'worthless' and 'forgotten about' in the latter stages of his career.

FAQ: Raheem Sterling's court hearing explained