West Ham footballer Kurt Zouma pleads guilty to kicking his cat

West Ham defender Kurt Zouma has pleaded guilty to kicking and slapping his cat.

The France international pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court 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.

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.

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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.’

Following the incident, Zouma was fined £250,000 by his club and his two pet cats were seized by the RSPCA.

Zoma has continued to play for West Ham following the incident and throughout the RSPCA’s investigation.

The former Chelsea star also saw a lucrative sponsorship deal with Adidas terminated.

His brother Yoan was temporarily suspended by Dagenham & Redbridge before being allowed to return to the squad in March.

‘I don’t think the club could take more action or any quicker. West Ham have fined him the maximum wages,’ West Ham manager David Moyes said of the club’s decision.

‘We all accept the