Sam Kerr has apologised for 'expressing herself poorly' but reiterated she 'did not intend to insult anyone' after being cleared of causing racially aggravated harassment. The Chelsea striker, 31, has been in court this week after calling PC Stephen Lovell "stupid and white" during the early hours of January 30 2023. A jury returned a not guilty verdict on Tuesday after deliberating for over four hours at Kingston Crown Court since the previous day. And in the hours after the decision was communicated, Kerr took the opportunity to react. "Following today’s not guilty verdict, I can finally put this challenging period behind me," Kerr said in a statement. "While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed. "I would like to thank my partner Kristie, my family, friends and all the fans for their love and support, especially those who attended court each day. "I am fully focused on getting back on to the pitch and look forward to an exciting year ahead for me and my family." The Australia international made the comments during a heated conversation at Twickenham Police Station after she and her fiancée, Kirstie Mews, had thought they were kidnapped by a taxi driver following a night out in London. Kerr told the court: "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." A CPS spokesman said on the trial: "The Crown Prosecution Service's function is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a jury to consider. "In this case, we decided that there was sufficient evidence and that it was in the public interest to proceed. We respect the jury’s decision."