Tearful partner of Chelsea striker Sam Kerr accuses police of ‘gaslighting’

The partner of Chelsea striker Sam Kerr accused police of “gaslighting” after a “very scary” incident in which the pair claim they were taken “hostage” by a taxi driver.

West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, 33, gave evidence at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday where Kerr is on trial for causing racially aggravated harassment to Pc Stephen Lovell during an incident in south-west London in the early hours of January 30th, 2023.

It is alleged that Kerr, 31, and her partner had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who complained that they had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick and that one of them smashed the vehicle’s rear window.

Speaking from the witness stand on Thursday, Ms Mewis, who is expecting a baby with Kerr, broke down in tears as she recalled: “It was like nothing I’ve experienced.

“I’ve never driven a car that fast before. I immediately felt fear for my life.

“I felt out of control and like someone else had control over me and that was obviously very scary… I didn’t know if it was a kidnapping or if we were going to crash.

“All of the horrible things you think about in your head; I didn’t know if that was going to happen.”

Kerr previously the pair were “trapped” in the back of the taxi and that they had tried to open the doors and windows multiple times but they remained locked.

She also claimed “Everything was going through my mind about being in a car with a stranger I deemed to be dangerous.

“There was no reasoning with him. It was his way or nothing.”

During cross-examination, prosecutors asked Ms Mewis if she knew the taxi driver had claimed he was taking the pair to Twickenham Police Station after phoning emergency services about them.

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