Kurt Zouma Sentenced After Pleading Guilty To Kicking A Cat

West Ham defender Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to kicking and slapping a cat.

In addition to the 12-month community order, the West Ham defender was also banned from keeping cats for five years and was told to pay nearly £9,000 in court costs.

Zouma pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates’ Court last week.

Video of the Frenchman kicking his cat recorded by his brother Yoan surfaced online and promptly raised an outcry amongst animal rights activists.

Following the verdict, a West Ham statement read: “West Ham United can confirm that Kurt Zouma has been handed a community service order following an investigation by the RSPCA.

“West Ham United wishes to make clear that we condemn in the strongest terms any form of animal abuse or cruelty. This type of behaviour is unacceptable and is not in line with the values of the football club.

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“Within 48 hours of the footage emerging, we fined Kurt the maximum available to the club.

“Every single penny of this money is now with a number of deserving charities, all dedicated to animal welfare.

“Kurt admitted at the earliest opportunity that what he did was wrong. He has apologised without reservation.

“We hope that now the court has reached its decision, everyone will allow Kurt the chance to learn from his mistake and move on.”

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