Zouma aggressively barged through the crowd of reporters
Kurt Zouma was spotted aggressively barging through the crowd of reporters at Thames Magistrates Court ahead of pleading guilty to kicking and slapping his pet cat on Tuesday.
Zouma, 27, arrived outside the building where he was met by a group of reporters who came up close to the vehicle to capture the Frenchman on camera.
The West Ham United defender was escorted by a number of security guards who also used umbrellas to hide him, but instead of calmly walking towards the Court, Zouma instead barged his way through the crowd with his face covered.
Several of the reporters surrounding Zouma almost fell over as a result of the aggressive barge as Zouma was swiftly guided into the building before appearing in Court.
A lesson from West Ham's @KurtZouma on how NOT to arrive for a trial….#WHUFC pic.twitter.com/uIhNpg2xgU
— Neil Barker (@Mockneyrebel) May 24, 2022
Zouma and his brother, Yoan, are being prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act in an investigation being led by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
Yoan, 24, is alleged to have filmed the incident and is accused of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring Kurt Zouma to commit an offence.
Kurt is accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on 6 February by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head.
Two cats belonging to Zouma are still under the care of the RSPCA.
After a video emerged of the incident, Kurt issued an apology, saying: “I want to apologise for my actions. There are no excuses for my behaviour, which I sincerely regret.
“I also want to say how deeply sorry I am to anyone who was upset by the video. I would like to assure everyone that our two cats are perfectly fine and healthy.
“They are loved and cherished by our entire family, and this behaviour was an isolated incident that will not happen again.”
Related links:
- Kurt Zouma: West Ham footballer pleads guilty to kicking and slapping a cat
- Kurt Zouma charged with three animal welfare offences
- Kurt Zouma’s brother charged by RSPCA following cat abuse video
