Former Manchester United star Brandon Williams was today handed a 14-month suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving after crashing his car at 99mph.
The 24-year-old, who was once paid £3.4million a year as a defender, had been ‘driving erratically’ in his Audi A3 before hitting a Ford Fiesta and smashing into a central reservation of the A34 in Cheshire.
Williams was filmed moments earlier driving with a balloon in his mouth and admitted he had been been trying to show off to a female passenger who was sitting next to him.
Judge Eric Lamb today sentenced the footballer to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years. He also banned him from driving for three years and ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work.
It is a dramatic fall from grace for a homegrown talent who once hailed for his fearless performances on the pitch and being ‘as brave as a lion’.
But after a dip in form, Man Utd announced last June that he would leave the club at the end of his contract, and during the time of the incident – on August 20, 2023 – he was on loan with Ipswich Town.
Last June, Manchester United announced he would leave the club at the end of his contract.
Judge Lamb, sitting in the Chester Crown Court, told Williams ‘there was no reason for driving in the way you did’ but said there was ‘strong personal mitigation’ after committing the offence at a time of depression.
Williams was told he had ‘stupid’ and earned ‘too much too soon’ after leaving Man Utd.
Williams had provided no comment when it was put to him that witnesses saw a balloon at his mouth while driving.
He was with a female passenger, who is said to have filmed the pair during the journey.
Williams was breathalysed at the scene, providing a negative result, arrested with dangerous driving and not carrying third party insurance.
Andrew Madden, the CPS senior crown prosecutor, said: ‘Brandon Williams’ driving on that day clearly fell far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.
‘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 a fortunate no one was seriously injured or killed.’
Williams – released by United at the end of last season – admitted recently that he is struggling to watch football but wants to make a return.
Handed a debut by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer six years ago, the full back made 51 appearances for United and won one cap for England’s Under 21s.
A loan spell at Ipswich Town under Kieran McKenna was cut short after the manager had become aware of issues with friends and family.
‘Things were starting to go crazy off the pitch, with friends and stuff like that,’ Williams said on the More than a Match podcast.
‘I ended up coming back to Manchester, sorted a lot of things out. Things got worse, so then the process didn’t really get me back down there.’
Williams added on the Fozcast podcast: ‘I go into this mode where I just don’t care. I have this switch where I don’t care what happens. They [family and friends] wanted me to get back to football but they could see I’d fallen out of love with.
‘It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play. I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things.
‘I want to have that feeling again of winning and being around the changing room environment.
‘I’ve had loads of teams trying to get me out – America, Europe and England – but I haven’t been ready. I want to go somewhere 100% focused and kick on.
‘I would like to experience that different culture. I’m only 24 so I could do three or four years abroad. Definitely Europe at a good club or an upcoming club.’
Williams’ playing career took off soon after turning 19, in September 2019, when he was handed his debut in an EFL Cup match against Rochdale.
The following month, he was hailed as ‘man of the match’ in a Europa League away victory against Partisan Belgrade by then-United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Norwegian eulogised about his young prospect, saying: ‘He’s been fantastic the few games he’s played. The boy has no fear, he is as brave as a lion and he got us the win.’
Ed Woodward, United’s then chief executive, was so impressed he told people Williams had replaced England international Luke Shaw as the club’s top left back.
But Williams, who had been with Manchester United from the age of seven, quickly discovered a down side.
He said: ‘It was difficult. You had family members you didn’t know was (sic) your family, friends you didn’t know was your mates.’
Everyday activities such as going to the shops or for family meals soon became problematic.
He recalled: ‘I am and always will still act who I am. I like to walk round ASDA, do my shopping, I like to think of it as a little meditation, listening to the radio and getting all the bargains.
‘I had someone come up to me and say, what are you doing in here? I thought, what do you mean, why can’t I be in here?
‘The limelight’s on you and the things I found hard was when I was out with my family and people are coming up to me and asking for photos.
‘I’m about to eat my steak and someone’s come up for a picture. When I’m with my family, I’m with my family. That’s what I lost.’
Williams added that as soon as he became successful ‘everyone just wanted, wanted, wanted’, pressuring him and his family for match tickets or Manchester United shirts.
He went on: ‘My dad (Paul Williams) went on Facebook and said ‘’no shirts, no tickets, it’s stopping now”’.
Williams even described having to be sneaked into venues by the ‘back door’ to avoid the attention of fans.