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The centre-back pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act
West Ham star Kurt Zouma has pleaded guilty to kicking and slapping his pet cat.
The defender pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court in east London on Tuesday morning.
Zouma, 27, apologised for his actions after graphic footage was filmed and shared by his younger brother Yoan, 24, on social media.
He admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a cat.
Yoan, who was accused of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring his Zouma to commit an offence, admitted one offence during the hearing.
Two further counts against the men were dismissed.
Zouma arrived at court accompanied by several security guards who emerged from a vehicle holding umbrellas to form a protective shield around him.
In the video, which was widely condemned, Zouma can be seen kicking the Bengal cat across his kitchen, before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.
Prosecutor Hazel Stevens said the 40-second clip appeared to be carried out after the cats were deemed responsible for damaging a chair in the home.
She said: “Kurt Zouma is determined to chastise or carry out some sort of retribution for the damage caused.”
Ms Stevens told the court Zouma could be heard saying: “I swear I’ll kill it, I swear I’ll kill it.”
Experts said the cat would have likely suffered soft tissue damage to the head, as well as mental and physical suffering.
Concerns over the cat’s welfare were raised by a woman who saw the footage which was also shared on snapchat.
The woman was so appalled that she cancelled a date with Yoan, saying: “I don’t think hitting a cat like that is OK – don’t bother coming today.”
The court hearing comes following an investigation led by the RSPCA, which has brought the prosecution against the Zouma brothers.
The animal welfare charity seized two cats belonging to Zouma after the video was circulated online. The cats remain in the care of the RSPCA.
Zouma has agreed for the two male Bengal cats to be rehomed, the court heard.
The two men will be sentenced on 1 June.
Additional reporting by PA News Agency
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Personally, I feel that he should be given a community sentence, working at a cat shelter for 6 months, say 15 hours week; cleaning out cat poo; as a financial fine for his actions is not enough. He gets tens of thousands £ a week for being a footballer; he needs to give his bit to animal welfare and the community; and working free of payment at a cat shelter is one way to this.
Lets see what the sentencing on June 1st brings; we will report it.
What can be learned from this ? – in the UK, when you abuse animals, you face the consequences of your actions; and sometimes they are not nice. Brits don’t like animal abusers. Alternatively, we will pay for him to have a one way flight ticket back to France, on the guarantee he remains there.
Regards Mark
World Animals Voice 