A SERIAL cat killer who was jailed for stabbing nine moggies to death and injuring seven more has died in prison.
Steven Bouquet, dubbed the “Brighton Cat Killer”, was jailed last year after being found guilty of the violent spree in the seaside resort.
Bouquet, 54, was found guilty of 16 offences of criminal damage, in relation to the cats, and possession of a knife.
The security guard was jailed for five years and three months for the string of attacks, but has died just months into his sentence.
The twisted killer showed no remorse or emotions as he was sentenced and heard harrowing victim impact statements from the cat’s owners.
During his sentencing hearing it was revealed that he had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer which has spread to his liver and lungs.
However the cause of his death is currently unknown, with the Prison service confirming that he had died in hospital on January 6.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “Steve Bouquet died at Maritime Medway Hospital on January 6 2022.
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“The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.”
Bouquet has never offered any explanation for his bizarre and sick crimes, and was charged with criminal damage rather than animal cruelty.
He served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, in Northern Ireland and Iraq, before he started his killing spree in October 2018.
Chilling footage shows the moment Bouquet struck one of his victims after bending down to stroke the cat in a passageway linking Church Street and North Road in Brighton.
He can then be seen pulling something out of a bag before appearing to attempt to strike the cat. The cat then rushes away from the scene.
Cops said the CCTV was instrumental in catching Bouquet.
The cat killer was able to move through the city unseen and unheard as he knifed people’s beloved pets, his trial heard.
During his trial, jurors heard accounts from several cat owners who had found their pets bleeding on their doorsteps.
Nine cats – Hendrix, Tommy, Hannah, Alan, Nancy, Gizmo, Kyo, Ollie and Cosmo – were killed, while another seven were injured.
Sentencing him, Judge Jeremy Gold QC said his behaviour was “cruel, it was sustained and it struck at the very heart of family life”.
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He added: “It is important that everyone understands that cats are domestic pets but they are more than that. They are effectively family members.
“They are much loved by the adults and children who live with and care for them.
“Cats and all domestic animals are a source of joy and support to their owners, especially during lockdown.”
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