Manchester City’s Khiara Keating appears in court on nitrous oxide charge | Manchester City Women

The Manchester Metropolis and England goalkeeper Khiara Keating has appeared in courtroom accused of possession of canisters of nitrous oxide, also referred to as “hippy crack”.

Keating, 20, stood within the dock at Manchester magistrates courtroom alongside her mom, Nicola Keating, 48, collectively charged with possession of the Class C drug, extra broadly referred to as laughing gasoline, in Manchester final month.

The footballer, carrying a black trouser swimsuit and trainers, spoke solely to substantiate her title and tackle. She was requested to point a plea and replied “not responsible”, as did her mom.

The cost is an “both means” offence and could be heard by magistrates or at a crown courtroom earlier than a jury. Each ladies selected to have their case heard earlier than magistrates. ­Jonathan Potter, prosecuting, stated the ladies are accused of the possession of nitrous oxide canisters for wrongful inhalation, an offence beneath the Misuse of Medicine Act.

Keating, of Ashton Previous Street, east Manchester, saved 9 clear sheets in 22 league video games final season for Metropolis, who completed second to Chelsea within the Ladies’s Tremendous League. She was on the books of Manchester United earlier than being noticed by a Metropolis scout.

Keating obtained her first Lionesses call-up final October and was a part of the squad for the latest remaining batch of Euro 2025 qualifiers, though she has not made her senior worldwide debut. She performed for Metropolis for the primary time as a 17-year-old in January 2022 and have become the clear first selection final season. Keating has performed for England at under-17, under-19 and under-23 stage.

Nitrous oxide was made a Class C drug beneath the Misuse of Medicine Act final November, as a part of the federal government’s delinquent behaviour motion plan. Possession of nitrous oxide, the place an individual intends to wrongfully inhale it for a psychoactive impact, is an offence however it’s nonetheless attainable to make use of the gasoline for respectable causes, corresponding to in catering or ache reduction throughout labour.

Magistrates granted Keating and her mom unconditional bail and adjourned the case till 10 September again on the identical courtroom for a district choose to repair a date for trial.