Police are investigating death threats and racist abuse aimed at West Ham defender Kurt Zouma in the wake of his cat-kicking incident.
Zouma yesterday appeared in court and pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act after a video emerged of him kicking and slapping his pet cat at his home back in February.
The video was filmed by Zouma’s brother, Yoan, who also admitted one offence following an RSPCA investigation.
A judge at Thames Magistrates’ Court, however, refused to disclose the French international’s address as part of the proceedings over fears for his safety after it was revealed that he had been targeted on social media with vile abuse and threats aimed at both him and his family.
Zouma’s defence lawyer, Trevor Burke QC, told the court that the abuse directed at his client had "totally disrupted his life”.
A statement from Essex Police said: “We received a report on April 8 of an allegation of malicious communications.
“Our enquiries are ongoing, and we continue to work with social media platforms to identify those responsible.”
Sentencing over the case has been adjourned until June 1, but Zouma has already been hit with a £250,000 fine by his club and lost his sponsorship deal with sportswear giants Adidas.
He has also not been selected for the French national side since the incident but has remained a regular in David Moyes’ West Ham team.
The 27-year-old had his cats confiscated in the immediate aftermath of the video’s emergence and they have been in the care of the RSPCA ever since, but the court heard yesterday that Zouma has now agreed for them to be re-homed.
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