Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment after the Chelsea star called a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white”.

A jury at Kingston Crown Court cleared her in relation to an incident in Twickenham, south-west London, on January 30, 2023.

Kerr, 31, claimed she was “antagonised” by officers after she and partner Kristie Mewis were taken to a police station by a taxi driver following a disagreement over payment that led to the court hearing of a “heated argument” with PC Stephen Lovell.

She did not deny using the words “stupid and white” but denied that she had made a racial offence towards PC Lovell in the early hours of the morning.

The court was told Kerr and West Ham midfielder Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver.

The driver had complained that they had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick and one of the pair had broken a window.

At the station, Kerr, Mewis and PC Lovell got into an exchange and Kerr told police: “This is a racial f****** thing.”

Kerr was accused of being “abusive and insulting” towards PC Lovell, calling him “f****** stupid and white”.

During the trial, she denied suggesting that the officer was “stupid because he was white”.

Kerr told the court she “feared for my life” as she and Mewis were “trapped” in the back of the taxi, moments before smashing the window and climbing out of the vehicle.

A jury returned the not guilty verdict on Tuesday after deliberating for four hours and 17 minutes 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.”

The Australia international said she regretted the way she expressed herself but added: “I feel the message was still relevant”.

She further explained: “I believed it was him using his power and privilege over me because he was accusing me of being something I’m not…

“I was trying to express that due to the power and privilege they had, they would never have to understand what we had just gone through and the fear we were having for our lives.”