Sam Kerr, Chelsea striker, has been cleared of racially harassing a Met Police officer.

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has been cleared of racially aggravated harassment after calling a Metropolitan Police officer "stupid and white".

The Australian international made the remarks to PC Stephen Lovell after an incident in south-west London in the early hours of January 30, 2023.

Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been drinking when they were transported to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who said they had refused to pay clean-up fees after one of them became ill and that one of them had damaged the vehicle's rear glass.

Kerr became "abusive and insulting" to Pc Lovell at the police station, calling him "f****** stupid and white".

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

Following the verdict, Judge Peter Lodder KC stated: "I believe her own behavior 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."

Kerr remained emotionless during the verdict reading, but after the judge left, she gave a thumbs up to her barrister Grace Forbes.

During the trial, the court heard how Kerr later admitted to calling PC Lovell "stupid and white" during a heated exchange, but denied that this constituted the charge.

She said she regretted how she expressed herself, but added, "I believe the message is still relevant."

She denied using "whiteness as an insult" and stated that she believed he was using his power and privilege to accuse her of being someone she is not. I was attempting to explain that because of their position and privilege, they would never have to understand what we had just gone through or the dread we felt for our lives.

When asked if she was claiming Pc Lovell was "stupid because he was white," Kerr responded, "No."

Kerr and Mewis told the court that they felt "dismissed" by PC Lovell after explaining how they had been "trapped" in the back of a taxi and "held against our will".

Mewis smashed the taxi's rear window before the pair exited the vehicle, which was parked near Twickenham Police Station.

Kerr, her partner, and Pc Lovell got into a "heated argument" at the station, and Kerr told police "this is a racial f****** thing".

She told the jury, "I believed they were treating me differently because of what they perceived to be the color of my skin, particularly Pc Lovell's behavior."

"The way he accused me of lying and then arrested me for criminal damage, despite the fact that Kristie claimed she was the one who smashed the taxi's window."

"At the time, I thought they were trying to put it on me."

The Crown Prosecution Service first chose not to charge Kerr, the court heard.

Kerr's legal team reportedly attempted to have the case dismissed at a preliminary hearing, saying that crown prosecutors had abused the process.

Kerr's lawyer, Grace Forbes, stated at the hearing on January 14 that the CPS had violated its own guidance, and that a "loophole" in the victims' right of review scheme was used to justify prosecution proceedings a year after the alleged offence.

During the trial, Pc Lovell was asked why he only provided a statement alleging that Kerr's comments had caused alarm or harassment following that decision.

According to the jury, the officer made no mention of the "stupid and white" remark having an impact on him in his initial statement to the CPS.

Police requested a review of the CPS decision not to prosecute, and the CPS responded that the outcome would be limited to an apology, the court heard.

Prosecutors later requested additional information, and Pc Lovell supplied a second statement in December 2023 that mentioned the alleged impact.

He read a piece of the statement to the court, stating that the statements "shocked, upset, and (left) me feeling humiliated".

The charge was approved later in December 2023, about a year after the occurrence.

Forbes asked PC Lovell during cross-examination: "You were determined to pursue this person, weren't you?"

Pc Lovell answered "yes," and Forbes inquired, "through the criminal courts?"

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