Zouma, Brother Receive Community Service, £9,000 Fine For Violence Against Pet

French centre-back Kurt Zouma has received 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to violence against his pet cat.

Zouma has been given a 12-month community order with a strictly ban not to keep cats for five years with a £9,000 fine.

The 27-year old footballer admitted to two counts of unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates' Court last week.

In the footage which was seen on social media, he kicked the Bengal cat across his kitchen before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.

His brother 24, who shared the video with a woman, who raised the alarm also received 140 hours of community service.

Hazel Stevens, for the prosecution, said Kurt Zouma could be heard in the video saying: "I swear I'll kill it, I swear I'll kill it."

WEST HAM REACTED FOLLOWING ZOUMA'S SENTENCE

Following the verdict, the English club 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.

"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."