Footballer Kurt Zouma is due in court on Tuesday over allegations he kicked a cat and slapped another in the head in disturbing videos posted online.
The 27-year-old West Ham defender is due in the dock at Thames magistrates court after a Snapchat video went viral, apparently showing him booting the pet across the room.
Zouma faces two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, as well as an allegation that he breached an animal welfare duty.
His younger brother Yoan, 23, has also been accused following an investigation by the RSPCA.
He is accused of aiding and abetting the causing of unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in the same incident, which happened on February 6.
After the video spread online, Yoan Zouma was suspended by his non-league club, Dagenham & Redbridge, before returning to the squad in early March.
Kurt Zouma was fined two weeks’ wages by West Ham, but did not face a suspension from Premier League action.
However he was dropped by a number of his sponsors including Sportswear giants Adidas, and has faced mocking chats on the terraces.
After news first broke of the RSCPA prosecution, West Ham said in a statement: “Kurt continues to cooperate fully, supported by the Club.
“It is our understanding that Kurt’s cats have been checked by a vet, are in good health and have suffered no physical injuries. For legal reasons, neither Kurt or the Club will be making any further comment at this time.”
According to charges against the star, from Chigwell in Essex, he is accused of “causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a cat, by an act, namely by kicking a cat in the abdomen”.
Zouma is also accused of “slapping a cat to the head”, as well as “not taking such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which you were responsible, namely a cat, were met to the extent required by good practice in that you did not protect the animal from pain, suffering, injury or disease”.
The footballing brothers have been summonsed to appear in court at 10am on Tuesday, when they are likely to be asked to enter pleas to the allegations.
