Premier League footballer Kurt Zouma has admitted kicking and slapping his pet cat.
The West Ham United defender pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court in east London on Tuesday morning.
Zouma, 27, was forced to apologise after harrowing footage was filmed and shared by his younger brother Yoan, 24, who admitted one offence during the hearing.
Hammers defender Zouma arrived at court in chaotic fashion, accompanied by several security guards who emerged from a vehicle holding umbrellas to form a protective shield around the defendant.
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma (centre) hides his face as he arrives at Thames Magistrates' Court, London where he is being prosecuted by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act for kicking his cat
Yui Mok
The court was told about disturbing footage of the incident, filmed at Zouma’s home and posted on Snapchat by his brother on February 6.
It was later seen by a woman who had been messaging Yoan, who raised the alarm.
Zouma could be seen volleying the Bengal cat across his kitchen, before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.
Prosecutor Hazel Stevens told the court Kurt Zouma could be heard saying: “I swear I’ll kill it, I swear I’ll kill it.”
He admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on February 6.
Yoan Zouma, the brother of West Ham defender Kurt Zouma, arrives at Thames Magistrates' Court, London, where he is being prosecuted by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act for kicking his cat
Yui Mok
Yoan admitted one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring his older brother to commit an offence.
Premier League footballer Kurt Zouma has admitted kicking and slapping his pet cat.
The West Ham United defender pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court in east London on Tuesday morning.
Zouma, 27, was forced to apologise after harrowing footage was filmed and shared by his younger brother Yoan, 24, who admitted one offence during the hearing.