He could've k*lled someone - Ex-Man United flop handed 14-year suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving

Former Man United defender Brandon Williams has seen career has take another dramatic turn.

The 24-year-old defender, who made 51 appearances for the Red Devils, now finds himself at the centre of a legal storm. 

On August 20, 2023, Williams crashed his Audi A3 into a Ford Fiesta at 99mph on the A34 near Handforth, Cheshire. 

As per talkSPORT, witnesses reported erratic driving behaviour, including sharp braking and rapid acceleration.

The collision resulted in significant damage to both vehicles and left the occupants of the Ford Fiesta with injuries. 

Fortunately, no fatalities occurred. 

Williams was breathalysed at the scene and tested negative for alcohol. 

Initially, he denied responsibility, attributing the crash to another driver's actions. However, he later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without third-party insurance.

According to the Daily Mail, Chester Crown Court handed Williams a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years on May 9.

He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and received a three-year driving ban. 

Judge Eric Lamb remarked on the absence of justification for Williams' driving behaviour but acknowledged mitigating factors, including the player's mental health struggles.

Williams' off-field issues have mirrored his on-field decline.

After a promising start under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he found himself out of favour and was loaned to Norwich City and later Ipswich Town. 

His stint at Ipswich was cut short amid concerns about his conduct and associations. 

In June 2024, Manchester United released him at the end of his contract. 

In a candid interview on the 'Fozcast' podcast, Williams admitted to considering retirement from football, citing the overwhelming pressures and loss of normalcy following his rapid rise.

 He expressed a desire to return to the sport, stating, "I wasn't happy to sit out for a season. I was prepared to have a break... When looking back now, I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have the break." 

A product of Manchester United's youth academy, Williams made his first-team debut in September 2019 and went on to make 51 appearances for the club.

During his time at United, he won the EFL Cup in the 2022–23 season and was part of the squad that finished as runners-up in both the FA Cup and UEFA Europa League. 

Williams also had loan spells at Norwich City in the 2021/22 season and Ipswich Town in the 2023/24 season, where he contributed to Ipswich's promotion as EFL Championship runners-up. 

Internationally, he has represented England at under-20 and under-21 levels.