England footballer John Terry has been cleared of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand after a week-long trial.

The Chelsea defender was cleared of abusing Ferdinand during a Premier League match on October 23 last year.

Oxshott resident Terry denied the offence from the outset and said he was repeating words Ferdinand mistakenly thought he had used.

The 31-year-old said he was “angry and upset” over the claims.

Chief magistrate Howard Riddle said there was a large volume of evidence to show Terry was not a racist.

He said it was “highly unlikely” Terry abused Anton Ferdinand in the manner the prosecution claimed.

He said: “The prosecution evidence as to what was said by Mr Ferdinand at this point is not strong.

“It is therefore possible that what he [Mr Terry] said was not intended as an insult, but rather as a challenge to what he believed had been said to him.

“In those circumstances, there being a doubt, the only verdict the court can record is one of not guilty.”

Terry made no comment as he left court on Friday, July 13.