A top student in China was rejected by a university after his history of cat abuse was exposed, reported Chinese media outlets.

The student, who is known only as Xu in Chinese media reports, failed to enter the School of Physics at Nanjing University in the eastern province of Jiangsu, despite receiving the highest score in the entrance test.

He topped his cohort with 507 points but he did not pass the second examination administered by the school, according to a report by the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald on April 3.

In a video posted online, Xu appears to have put a cat into a bucket before stepping on its head.

After the videos were circulated online, the police in Nanjing launched an investigation and Xu apologised for his actions.

“We’ve spoken to the parents and Xu has written a letter of repentance, promising that such an incident like this would not happen again,” the police said. – The Straits Times (Singapore)/Asia News Network