Chelsea star Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment after an altercation with a Metropolitan Police officer in January 2023. A jury at Kingston Crown Court returned the verdict on Tuesday following deliberations that began the previous day.
The case stemmed from an incident in which Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who accused them of refusing to pay clean-up costs after one of them vomited and of breaking his car’s rear window.
Inside the station, Kerr was accused of directing abusive language at PC Stephen Lovell, allegedly calling him “f****** stupid and white.” While Kerr admitted to making the remark, she denied the charge, arguing that her words were an expression of frustration rather than racial harassment.
Kerr, who identifies as white Anglo-Indian, testified that she had experienced racism firsthand and felt the officer was dismissive of her and Mewis, failing to acknowledge their fear after they claimed the taxi driver had locked them inside the vehicle and driven dangerously.
The Australian forward, sidelined since January 2024 with an ACL injury, expressed regret over her choice of words but maintained that her concerns were valid.
Judge Peter Lodder, in his closing remarks, noted that Kerr’s behavior contributed to the situation but acknowledged the jury’s decision to acquit her.