Kurt Zouma Kicking Cat Video
Police launch investigation into Snapchat video of Kurt Zouma kicking his cat after more than 30,000 sign petition demanding he is prosecuted, while £29m star is picked to play Watford TONIGHT despite dressing down from his West Ham bosses
Kurt Zouma, 27, has been filmed on Snapchat kicking and slapping cat in home
Defender is heard laughing as he chases cat around kitchen and dining room
He is also seen throwing a pair of shoes at the cat as it frantically runs away
Video was taken on Sunday - day after he played in FA Cup match for West Ham
Now Essex police said they were making 'urgent enquiries' about the incident
Police said they would be working alongside the RSPCA to investigate the video
Twitter users have called on charity to take action and petition has been set up
Police have launched an investigation into Premier League star Kurt Zouma after he was caught kicking a cat and laughing.
The star has today apologised after being given a dressing down by West Ham bosses over a shocking video showing him kicking and slapping a Bengal cat.
In a grovelling statement, the 27-year-old, who only joined the east London club from Chelsea in a £29.8million deal in the summer, said he was 'deeply sorry' over the incident and insisted his cats were 'loved and cherished'.
The apology comes as his club side issued their own statement, in which they 'unreservedly condemned' the defender's actions.
However, the defender is in West Ham's starting line up in the Premier League tonight against Watford.
But the footballer is not yet off the hook, and is facing a joint police and RSPCA animal cruelty investigation.
Essex police said: 'We are aware of a video circulating on social media relating to an incident involving a cat which members of our communities may find distressing.
'We have recently been made aware that this incident may have taken place in Essex and we are liaising with the RSPCA and urgent enquiries are ongoing.'
The RSPCA, which has the power to prosecute in animal welfare cases, said it was 'aware' of the 'very upsetting footage'.
RSPCA bosses today refused to say if a probe had been launched, instead saying it would investigate if a 'complaint is made' and it is 'necessary'.
Social media users meanwhile have taken to Twitter to put pressure on the RSPCA to investigate.
And a petition calling for the charity to take action against the French international has also been launched. It has already been signed more than 10,000 times.
The RSPCA, whose prosecutions carry a maximum sentence of five-years in prison for the most serious of offences, would not confirm the receipt of any official complaints that would lead to an investigation.
The charity however say it had received 'lots of messages on social media' and other channels about the video, which was taken on Sunday - the day after Zouma appeared for the club in their FA Cup victory over non-league Kidderminster Harriers.
RSPCA bosses urged
Police launch investigation into Snapchat video of Kurt Zouma kicking his cat after more than 30,000 sign petition demanding he is prosecuted, while £29m star is picked to play Watford TONIGHT despite dressing down from his West Ham bosses
Kurt Zouma, 27, has been filmed on Snapchat kicking and slapping cat in home
Defender is heard laughing as he chases cat around kitchen and dining room
He is also seen throwing a pair of shoes at the cat as it frantically runs away
Video was taken on Sunday - day after he played in FA Cup match for West Ham
Now Essex police said they were making 'urgent enquiries' about the incident
Police said they would be working alongside the RSPCA to investigate the video
Twitter users have called on charity to take action and petition has been set up
Police have launched an investigation into Premier League star Kurt Zouma after he was caught kicking a cat and laughing.
The star has today apologised after being given a dressing down by West Ham bosses over a shocking video showing him kicking and slapping a Bengal cat.
In a grovelling statement, the 27-year-old, who only joined the east London club from Chelsea in a £29.8million deal in the summer, said he was 'deeply sorry' over the incident and insisted his cats were 'loved and cherished'.
The apology comes as his club side issued their own statement, in which they 'unreservedly condemned' the defender's actions.
However, the defender is in West Ham's starting line up in the Premier League tonight against Watford.
But the footballer is not yet off the hook, and is facing a joint police and RSPCA animal cruelty investigation.
Essex police said: 'We are aware of a video circulating on social media relating to an incident involving a cat which members of our communities may find distressing.
'We have recently been made aware that this incident may have taken place in Essex and we are liaising with the RSPCA and urgent enquiries are ongoing.'
The RSPCA, which has the power to prosecute in animal welfare cases, said it was 'aware' of the 'very upsetting footage'.
RSPCA bosses today refused to say if a probe had been launched, instead saying it would investigate if a 'complaint is made' and it is 'necessary'.
Social media users meanwhile have taken to Twitter to put pressure on the RSPCA to investigate.
And a petition calling for the charity to take action against the French international has also been launched. It has already been signed more than 10,000 times.
The RSPCA, whose prosecutions carry a maximum sentence of five-years in prison for the most serious of offences, would not confirm the receipt of any official complaints that would lead to an investigation.
The charity however say it had received 'lots of messages on social media' and other channels about the video, which was taken on Sunday - the day after Zouma appeared for the club in their FA Cup victory over non-league Kidderminster Harriers.
RSPCA bosses urged
Category
🗞
News