BRIGHTON CAT KILLER STEPHEN BOUQUET SENTENCED AFTER HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY SPREE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Brighton, Stephen Bouquet, a former Royal Navy seaman and security guard, was found guilty of a brutal and prolonged campaign of animal cruelty that spanned over nine months. The conviction revealed that Bouquet was responsible for the deaths of nine cats and the maiming of seven others, with some victims left severely injured but surviving his attacks.

Throughout this period, Bouquet carried out a series of violent acts against domestic cats in Brighton, stabbing at least 16 pets and possibly many more. The extent of his cruelty was uncovered during a detailed investigation, which uncovered evidence of his involvement in these heinous acts. Some of the cats he attacked are featured in a photo montage presented during the trial, illustrating the severity of his crimes.

Authorities expressed concern that Bouquet's actions might not have been limited to the cats already identified, fearing that he could be responsible for additional attacks within the city. The investigation intensified when police managed to apprehend him on the evening of June 28, 2021. His arrest was prompted by a tip-off from a member of the public who observed him drinking and behaving strangely in a Brighton park. Despite the secretive nature of his location, police tracked him down and took him into custody.

During the trial, it was revealed that Bouquet had been actively documenting his crimes. Police discovered photographs of the attacked cats on his mobile phone, and a search of his residence uncovered a knife stained with feline blood in his kitchen. Phone records further linked him to the scene of the attacks, placing him at or near the locations where the cats were harmed. Additionally, investigators found that Bouquet obsessively searched online for news coverage related to his crimes, copying articles from local newspapers such as The Argus and The Guardian onto his device as the stories spread.

Despite his absence from court—having failed to appear—Bouquet was tried in his absence and ultimately found guilty after a jury deliberation that lasted three hours. The court heard evidence of his disturbing behavior, including the possession of images depicting his attacks. The case also included charges of property damage and destruction, which contributed to his overall conviction.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC described the crimes as 'appalling' and emphasized the profound impact on the victims' owners and their families, calling the consequences 'considerable and grave.' The judge noted that no rational explanation for Bouquet's actions had been presented, and none could be reasonably expected.

In sentencing, Bouquet received a prison term of five years for the cat killings. He was also sentenced to three months concurrently for possessing the blood-stained knife and an additional three months consecutively for failing to answer bail. This resulted in a total sentence of five years and three months. Notably, because the prosecution did not pursue charges under animal welfare legislation, Bouquet was not banned from owning animals in the future.

It was later reported on January 18, 2022, that Stephen Bouquet had died in prison, apparently from cancer, bringing a tragic end to a case that had deeply disturbed the Brighton community.