Former Manchester United star Brandon Williams has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after he was caught speeding at 99mph before a crash in Cheshire.
Williams, 24, was seen driving at high speeds in an Audi A3 on the A34 near Handforth, Cheshire, on 20 August, 2023.
The defender, who was on loan at Ipswich Town from United at the time of the incident, was with a female passenger, driving at almost 100mph in a 70mph zone with a balloon in his mouth.
The car collided with a blue Ford Fiesta at around 6.17pm before crashing into the central reservation.
The CPS said witnesses called the police and Williams was breathalysed, but the test was negative.
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Williams was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries and then taken to Middlewich custody suite.
Williams pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court on Friday to dangerous driving and driving without third party insurance, the CPS said.
The CPS said Williams admitted he was the driver of the Audi in a prepared statement, but denied it was out of control and blamed the collision on the actions of another driver that forced him to swerve into the central reservation.
He was asked about the witnesses who saw him with a balloon at his mouth, but he replied, ‘no comment’, the CPS said.
Andrew Madden, a senior crown prosecutor with CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: ‘Brandon Williams’ driving on that day clearly fell far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.
‘Expert analysis showed that he was driving at 99mph four seconds before he hit the Ford Fiesta.
‘Witnesses said Williams kept speeding up and then breaking sharply. It was clear he wasn’t in control of the vehicle.
‘The driving was erratic and the speed was grossly excessive. Eventually, Williams lost control completely and crashed.
‘It is fortunate no one was seriously injured or killed. To drive at 99mph in those circumstances was extremely dangerous and placed the lives of other road users at serious risk of harm. The Crown Prosecution Service wishes to thank the witnesses for supporting this prosecution’
Williams joined the United academy aged nine, progressing through the club’s youth ranks before he was handed his senior debut by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019.
After a string of impressive performances, Williams signed a new four-year contract at Old Trafford in August 2020 but first-team opportunities would dry up the following season.
He spent the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Norwich City, spending last season with Ipswich Town.
Williams was released by United at the end of his contract last summer and remains a free agent.
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