Chelsea footballer Kerr is cleared of racial harassment

Chelsea star Sam Kerr has been cleared of causing racially aggravated harassment following a trial over calling a Metropolitan Police officer "stupid and white". The Australian striker directed the remark at PC Stephen Lovell during an incident in the early hours of 30 January 2023 in southwest London.

- SIAN ELVIN

Ms Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking before a taxi driver drove them to Twickenham Police Station to complain that the couple had refused to cover costs to clean up the vehicle after one of them was sick and the vehicle's rear window was smashed by one of them.

At the police station, Ms Kerr became "abusive and insulting" towards PC Lovell, calling him "fucking stupid and white". After approximately four hours and 17 minutes of deliberation, a jury returned a not-guilty verdict at Kingston Crown Court.

Ms Kerr, who has been out for her club and country since January 2024 with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury, showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict, but gave a thumbs up to her barrister Grace Forbes after the judge had left. She said she regretted the way she had expressed herself, but added: "I feel the message was still relevant."