On January 30, 2023, an evening intended for leisure turned into a distressing ordeal for Ms Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis, a West Ham midfielder. The pair had been enjoying a night out in south-west London when they decided to head home in a taxi in the early hours. However, the ride took an alarming turn when the taxi driver, whom Ms Kerr described as "acting in a crazy way," drove them to Twickenham police station instead.
During the ride, one of the passengers became sick in the vehicle, prompting the driver to demand a clean-up fee. When the passengers refused, the driver reportedly locked them in the car for approximately 15 minutes. Ms Kerr later expressed feeling "very, very threatened" by the driver's behavior.
"He literally was so dangerous and so scary and he had us both very, very afraid." – Ms Kerr
The incident escalated outside the police station when PC Stephen Lovell encountered Ms Kerr as she crawled through a smashed taxi window. Following this event, Ms Kerr faced charges of causing racially aggravated harassment against PC Lovell. Initially, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) determined that the evidence did not meet the threshold to charge Ms Kerr. However, a subsequent statement by PC Lovell, made ten months after his initial account, prompted the Metropolitan Police to proceed with charges.
Ms Kerr has admitted to making what she termed "stupid and white" comments during the incident but denies that these remarks constitute harassment. She expressed regret over her actions but maintained that her reaction was fueled by fear.
"and in that moment onwards the taxi driver became very aggressive" – Ms Kerr
In recounting her experience at the police station, Ms Kerr shared her dissatisfaction with the police response.
"We spoke to three officers and honestly I didn't feel very helped." – Ms Kerr
"I just want to add how I didn't feel we were being heard; I've never been in a situation like that where the taxi driver has locked the door and [driven] two females around – that's why I felt so angry and so upset." – Ms Kerr
The case has drawn attention due to its complex circumstances and the serious nature of the charges involved. The subsequent legal proceedings will aim to clarify the events of that night and determine any accountability.
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