Kurt Zouma: West Ham defender prosecuted for three animal welfare offences

West Ham defender Kurt Zouma will appear in court after being accused of three offences under the Animal Welfare Act for allegedly harming his cat.

Zouma's brother Yoan, who plays for Dagenham and Redbridge, has been accused of two offences following an RSPCA investigation.

Yoan, 23, filmed 27-year-old Kurt kicking and slapping one of his pets.

The Zouma brothers are set to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Tuesday for a first hearing.

After the video appeared in February, the RSPCA removed two cats from Kurt's home and began liaising with Essex Police about the incident.

The RSPCA continues to care for the two cats.

Kurt is accused of two counts of causing "unnecessary suffering" to the cat by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it in the head.

He is also alleged to have failed to protect the cat from "pain suffering, injury or disease".

Yoan is accused of two counts of "aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring" Kurt to commit the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the cat.

and was dropped by a number of sponsors, but continued to play for the Hammers.

Yoan has not played for Dagenham and Redbridge since 29 January.