Chelsea striker cleared of causing racially aggravated harassment

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has been cleared of causing racially aggravated harassment.

The court heard she had called a police officer 'stupid and white' in January 2023, after a row with a taxi driver.

Ms Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who complained that they had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick and that one of them had smashed the vehicle's rear window.

A jury returned the not guilty verdict on Tuesday after deliberating for around four hours and 17 minutes at Kingston Crown Court since the previous day.

Judge Peter Lodder KC said after the verdict: "I take the view her own behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation.

"I don't go behind the jury's verdict but that has a significant bearing on the question of costs."

Ms Kerr showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict but gave a thumbs up to her barrister Grace Forbes after the judge had left.

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