A dangerous predator who systematically targeted family pets across Brighton has finally been brought to justice. Steven Bouquet’s cruel attacks on innocent cat killer left a community traumatized and searching for answers.
The Trail of Terror in Brighton Streets
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Security guard Steven Bouquet, 54, now known as the “Brighton cat killer,” received over five years in prison for his disturbing crime spree. Between October 2018 and June 2019, Bouquet stabbed 16 cats during nighttime attacks throughout Brighton neighborhoods. His vicious campaign ended the lives of nine beloved pets while leaving seven others seriously injured.
The attacks sent shockwaves through the community. Pet owners lived in fear, keeping their cats indoors and warning neighbors about the danger lurking in their streets. What made these crimes particularly chilling was their calculated nature – Bouquet specifically targeted family pets, striking under the cover of darkness.
Heartbroken Families Share Their Stories
“I was completely distraught. I was wailing in tears, completely inconsolable,” recalled Emma Sullivan, who discovered her cat Gizmo lying dead near her front door. Her story echoes the trauma experienced by many affected families.
Catherine Mattock can’t forget holding her cat Alan “dead but warm in my arms, covered in blood.” She imagines her trusting pet “running over thinking he was going to get a stroke, and instead getting stabbed.”
The emotional toll extended beyond grief. Lucy Kenward spent £5,000 on veterinary bills trying desperately to save her cat Cosmo after Bouquet’s attack. “Cosmo was very much part of the family,” she explained. “I had had him eight years before he was killed. I feel a definite sense of guilt over my decision to let him outside.”
The Investigation That Caught the Cat Killer
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Though Bouquet initially denied all charges, detective work uncovered disturbing evidence of his fixation. His laptop revealed repeated visits to websites about lost cats in Brighton, with particular attention to one that had been killed.
Even more troubling was the discovery of “numerous dog killing cat-related videos” in his search history. Investigators also found two photographs of a dead cat taken at different times of day – images they believe Bouquet himself took.
Detective Inspector Chris Thompson led the investigation that finally brought the cat killer to justice. The evidence proved overwhelming, and despite his denials, Bouquet was convicted of criminal damage and possession of a knife.
Justice Served for Brighton’s Beloved Pets
The judge didn’t mince words during sentencing, calling Bouquet’s behavior “cruel” and stating that it “struck at the very heart of family life.” The five-year sentence reflects the seriousness with which the court viewed these attacks on innocent animals.
For the families still healing from their losses, the sentence brings a measure of closure. The Brighton community can now begin to recover from a period of fear and uncertainty, though the emotional scars remain for those who lost their beloved companions.
The case highlights the deep bonds between people and their pets, and the devastating impact when those bonds are violently broken. It also serves as a reminder of how seriously the justice system now treats crimes against animals – recognizing them not just as property damage, but as attacks that cause genuine emotional harm to families.
