Online Reporter
SHOCKING dashcam footage shows Raheem Sterling waving an inflated “hippy crack” balloon at the wheel of his £270,000 Lamborghini – moments before he crashed with a roadside barrier.
The dashcam video clearly shows the white balloon being held on the driver’s side as the star’s SUV makes its way along the M3 motorway.
Sterling pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possessing laughing gas, the common term for nitrous oxide, at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The ex-England winger, 31, could get locked up for two years.
The Sun previously revealed video of Sterling swerving on a three-lane motorway following his arrest in May.
But new footage of Sterling’s driving was captured on a rear-view dashcam by a passing motorist – where a balloon can clearly be seen inside the car.
The footballer’s SUV can be seen approaching the rear of the recording vehicle on a busy three-lane motorway.
As the motor draws closer a white balloon becomes clearly visible behind the windshield.
It’s then shaken slightly and moves below the dashboard and out of sight of the camera.
Sterling’s vehicle then speeds up and almost passes the car recording his driving.
Randomly, the footballer then dramatically slows down again with the cars behind forced to brake.
The former England star also nearly crashed into the central reservation as other drivers feared someone could be killed.
The stunned motorist who recorded the driving, an IT manager who was on her way to work, said she recognised Sterling that morning and spotted a suspicious balloon in his hand.
“It was early in the morning and I saw the Lambo on the motorway on my way to work, so had a quick look who was driving it out of curiosity,” she said.
“I recognised Sterling straight away and then saw he had a balloon in his hands, I couldn’t believe it, I knew instantly that it must be laughing gas.
“I thought it was a completely reckless thing to be doing while driving.
“My other reaction was that it was really irresponsible to be doing it while driving at this time of the morning during rush hour.
“Then when the news reports came out about the crash I went back to check my dashcam footage and noticed you can clearly see what appeared to be a white balloon being waved around in the driver’s seat of his car.”
The mum-of-two, who asked not to be named, said Sterling’s behaviour is “beyond unacceptable”.
Sterling had six Nos canisters in his Lamborghini Urus, which had four blown out tyres and scratches down the side, when police arrived at the crash in May.
The crash was seven hours after he was first seen driving “erratically” at a McDonald’s while clutching a pink balloon 30 miles away.
He was arrested and taken to a police station, where he failed brain function tests and later refused to give a specimen of blood for lab testing.
At Basingstoke magistrates court on Tuesday he spoke only to confirm his name and age, and it had been requested for him not to confirm his address in open court due to risks of burglary.
The witness who recorded him inhaling the laughing gas said: “I could have easily been involved in a crash with him that day and my kids would be left without a mum; his behaviour is beyond unacceptable.
“Raheem Sterling is a role model for a lot of young people, he has a huge platform, and this kind of behaviour doesn’t set a good example to those that look up to him.
“The courts need to hand out a suitable punishment that sends a message to others, especially footballers.
“You can’t behave this way, it’s not acceptable.”
Another driver, Christopher Jennings, saw Sterling at 7.49am on the M25 and was “shocked at what he saw”.
Prosecutor Simon Jones said: “There was heavy traffic. The speed limit was reduced to 40mph and traffic was moving at around 30mph.
“He saw the black Lambo and when he was driving in parallel to the vehicle in lane two, he could see the driver was holding a large canister in his right hand which was attached to a balloon.
“He then saw Mr Sterling inflating the balloon, putting it to his mouth and inhaling the contents.
“He called 999 to report his concern.”
Mr Jennings had Mr Sterling in his sight for around 30 minutes.
It was said that he was “weaving from the far left to the far right and was so close to the white lines that other vehicles would have to brake and move over to prevent a crash.
“Mr Jennings believed Mr Sterling was going to crash into someone.
“As they approached the junction for the M4 the Lamborghini continued in lane one as if it was going to come off there.
“Five or six cars had to brake quite hard as the defendant moved lanes to continue on the M25. Effectively he cut across.”
Police bodycam footage recorded Sterling being nicked, which was played to the Basingstoke magistrates court – 12 miles from where the crash took place.
An officer is heard saying: “Get out of the car for me” to which Sterling replied: “Can I just make a call?”
The PC said: “What is your name?” and he responded: “Raheem.”
The cop asked: “What is your surname?” and he said: “Sterling.”
The officer then asked for his date of birth to which he replied with with December 8, 1994.
He then said: “Give me your phone.
“Stop tensing up. Put your arm behind your back.”
Photographs of the damage to his Lambo and nitrous oxide canisters in his car were shown to the court by prosecutor Simon Jones – Sun.
