Former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance following a high-speed crash in Cheshire. The 24-year-old, who was once considered a rising star at Old Trafford, is now facing sentencing after his reckless actions behind the wheel.
The incident took place on August 20, 2023, when Williams was driving an Audi A3 on the A34 near Handforth. Witnesses reported seeing him driving erratically at speeds of up to 99 mph while holding a balloon in his mouth, an act often linked to inhaling nitrous oxide. A female passenger was said to be filming him moments before he lost control of the vehicle. His car collided with a Ford Fiesta before crashing into the central reservation. While he tested negative for alcohol, his driving was deemed highly dangerous. Initially, Williams denied any wrongdoing, blaming another driver for the crash, but he has since admitted to the charges.
Williams, a product of Manchester United’s esteemed youth academy, was once heralded as a potential long-term fixture in the club’s defence. He broke into the first team during the 2019-20 season under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, making 36 appearances and impressing with his energy and aggression at left-back. However, he struggled to maintain his place as the club brought in more competition for his position.
In the following years, Williams was loaned out to Norwich City in 2021-22, where he gained valuable Premier League experience despite the club’s relegation. He spent the 2023-24 season at Ipswich Town in the Championship but failed to recapture his early promise. His contract with Manchester United expired in June 2024, marking the end of his long association with the club and he left with an emotional instagram post expressing his gratitude for the club.
Williams is due to be sentenced on May 9, 2025, at Chester Crown Court and could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.