Kurt Zouma: West Ham defender sentenced to 180 hours of community service for cat attack video

By Sammy Mngqosini, CNN

Updated 1741 GMT (0141 HKT) June 1, 2022

West Ham United player Kurt Zouma leaves Thames Magistrates Court after a hearing, in London, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Zouma has pleaded guilty to kicking and slapping his pet cat in abuse caught on video. The 27-year-old France international appeared at the hearing accused of three offenses under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to footage of the abuse that surfaced on social media in February. Zouma pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

(CNN)West Ham defender Kurt Zouma was on Wednesday ordered to complete 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to kicking and slapping a cat, according to PA Media.

The UK animal welfare charity, RSPCA launched an investigation into the French international player after a video of the incident filmed by his younger brother, Yoan, surfaced online in February showing him hurling shoes at his pet cat, slapping it across the face, chasing it around the room and kicking it across the floor in what looked to be a private residence.West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma filmed kicking and slapping cat During the sentencing at Thames Magistrates' Court, Zouma was also banned from owning a cat for five years and ordered to pay court fines of nearly £9,000 ($11,214).Yoan was ordered to complete 140 hours of community service after pleading guilty to one count of aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring his older brother to commit an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The RSPCA seized two cats belonging to Zouma shortly after the incident and they have remained in their care since February. Read More«We are pleased there has been swift justice