Terry found not guilty

Chelsea captain John Terry has been cleared of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

 Following a five-day trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said on Friday that Terry was not a racist and handed down the not guilty verdict after no first-hand evidence was given regarding what the Chelsea captain actually said.

 "The issue for the court is not to decide whether Mr Terry is a racist - I have received unchallenged evidence he is not," Riddle said. "The issue is whether Mr Terry uttered the words as an insult.

" "Even with all the help received, it is impossible to be sure exactly what were the words spoken by John Terry at the relevant time.

 "It is a crucial fact that nobody has given evidence about what Mr Terry said or how he said it.

" Terry was accused of calling Ferdinand a 'f****** black c***' during a Premier League match on October 23 last year.

 Riddle described Ferdinand as 'brave' to give evidence, adding: "Overall I found Anton Ferdinand to be a believable witness on the central issue.

" After the verdict was announced the Crown Prosecution Service stated: "It was our view that this was not 'banter' on the pitch and the allegation should have been judged (upheld) by court.

" Immediately after the verdict Terry was escorted to a waiting car without giving his interpretation of the verdict.

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