Wednesday 1 June 2022 09:52 AM West Ham star Kurt Zouma, 27, arrives at court where he could be JAILED today ... trends now

Disgraced Premier League footballer Kurt Zouma has arrived at court to be sentenced for kicking and slapping his cat in a disturbing home video posted on Snapchat.

The £125,000-a-week defender, 27, looked shamefaced as he walked into Thames Magistrates Court in east London this morning to face his punishment.

West Ham defender Zouma was pilloried after footage emerged of him volleying the pet across his kitchen, before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head, saying: 'I swear I'll kill it.'

The Snapchat clip, from February this year, featured laughing and disgusted animal lovers and football fans.

Father-of-four Zouma pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates Court in east London last week to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat, after blaming the family pet for damaging a chair.

His two Bengal male cats - which can cost up to £1,500 each - have since been signed over to be rehomed by the RSPCA.

Zouma will be sentenced for kicking his cat after being prosecuted by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act

West Ham defender Kurt Zouma arrives at Thames Magistrates' Court, London, today where he will be sentenced for kicking his cat

Kurt Zouma was forced to apologise after a video of him kicking his cat went viral in February

Animal cruelty cases can be punished by a maximum five year sentence after guidelines increased punishments.

But a custodial sentence is thought to be unlikely, given he and his brothers' guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.

The court heard the 'premeditated' attack was filmed by his younger brother, lower-league footballer Yoan Zouma, 24, who sent it to a woman he was due to go on a date with.

But the woman was so shocked that she called off their meeting, telling him: 'I don't think hitting a cat like that is OK - don't bother coming today.

Kurt Zouma at Thames Magistrates Court last week where he admitted both of the offences

Yoan Zouma at court to appear over claims filming a cat being kicked by brother Kurt Zouma

Judge agreed to ban reporting of Zouma's address after abuse

Footballer Kurt Zouma's address will be withheld from the public domain after a judge heard about the 'grotesque' abuse he received since a video of him kicking his cat went viral.

Trevor Burke QC, for West Ham defender Zouma, said his client received abuse that was 'the worst' the football players' union had seen.

He said police were looking to prosecute those responsible, but said the strength of the abuse gave rise to concerns about Zouma's safety, despite stringent security measures already being in place at his home.

Content of the messages was not read out at Thames Magistrates' Court in East London, although a redacted copy was shown to the district judge, Susan Holdham.

She imposed an order under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act, banning publication of the Zoumas' addresses, in full or in part.

She said: 'I can see a number of messages - vile, racial abuse.

'There are threats to kill. They refer to him and his children. The bar (on media reporting) is a high one, but I think it has been reached.

'I quite understand the necessity for open justice and for the press to report freely but in these circumstances I am prepared for the address of both defendants to be withheld.'

'I do not want to associate with people who find that funny, in front of a child as