The Premier League footballer Kurt Zouma has been ordered to carry out 180 hours of community service and banned from keeping cats for five years for kicking and slapping his cat.
The 27-year-old West Ham and France defender prompted widespread condemnation after footage filmed by his brother Yoan Zouma, emerged of Zouma volleying the pet across his kitchen, before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.
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Sentencing the brothers at the 15-minute hearing, the district judge Susan Holdham said: “Both of you took part in this disgraceful and reprehensible act with this pet cat.
“You must be aware that others look up to you and many young people aspire to emulate you.”
She added: “The cat looked up to you to care for its needs. On that date in February you did not provide for its needs.”
The judge said both men expressed “genuine remorse”.
Kurt Zouma was also ordered to pay court costs of nearly £9,000. His brother was ordered to carry out 140 hours community service and also banned from owning cats for five years.
The Snapchat clip, from February, featured Zouma laughing and saying: “I swear I’ll kill it.”
He pleaded guilty at Thames magistrates court in east London last week to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat, after blaming the family pet for damaging a chair.
His two male Bengal cats have since been signed over to be rehomed.
The court heard the “premeditated” attack was filmed by his younger brother, the lower-league footballer Yoan, 24, who sent it to a woman he was due to go on a date with.
But the woman was so shocked that she called off their meeting, telling him: “I don’t think hitting a cat like that is OK. Don’t bother coming today.”
Yoan Zouma admitted one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring his older brother to commit an offence.
The court heard that Zouma had been subject to racist abuse and threats, lost a “substantial” sponsorship deal with Adidas, was fined £250,000 and lost his place in the France national team since the furore over the footage emerged.
But his legal team’s claims in court that seven people are to be prosecuted for abusing Zouma were later dismissed by police.
Speaking after the hearing, the RSPCA chief inspectorate officer, Dermot Murphy, said: “We are pleased there has been swift justice in this awful case and our focus now is matching these beautiful cats to the loving homes they deserve.
“This case sends a really clear message that animals should never be treated like this, and posting videos of animals being harmed on social media for likes is abhorrent.”
Several people gathered outside the court as Zouma arrived dressed in a black suit and white shirt. They included one person dressed as a cat.
In a statement, a West Ham club spokesperson said: “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.
“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 (TheGuardianUK)
