Brighton security guard accused of stabbing 16 cats told police he ‘was no threat to animals’

A security guard accused of stabbing nine cats to death and seriously injuring seven more told police he was ‘no threat to animals’ despite having pictures of a dead cat on his mobile phone.

Former Royal Navy sailor Steve Bouquet, 54, told officers he liked cats and would often pat them on the head and stroke them on his way to work.

The security guard, who works at Churchill Shopping Centre, Brighton, is accused of killing nine cats and seriously injuring seven more in a gruesome knifing spree that spanned from October 2018 to June 2019. 

Devastated owners, reeling from the loss of their beloved pets, were also confronted with huge vet’s bills often reaching thousands of pounds. 

Photographs of a dead cat on his mobile phone were revealed after it was seized by investigating officers at Sussex Police.

In an interview Bouquet said: ‘They [pets] have always been friendly to me as I’m sort of no threat to animals. If you put yourself over as a threat they will bite and scratch.

‘I have no issues with cats, dogs or anything like that.’

‘They come up to me and I give them a stroke and then send them on their way. I’ve no issues with cats and dogs.’ 

Nine cats were killed during a gruesome months-long spree in the East Sussex city in 2018 and 2019, while seven more were injured. 

Bouquet, 54, from Brighton, is standing trial after denying 16 offences of criminal damage – in relation to the cats – and possession of a knife.

The ex-Royal Navy sailor was asked how he felt about animals and he replied: ‘I like them. I like them. I’m not too keen on people who keep things that are poisonous likes snakes and spiders.’

In a separate police interview, Bouquet was shown CCTV footage of him allegedly stabbing Hendrix the cat, who later died from his injuries.

But he denied this, claiming he stopped to stroke the pet and explaining the object in his hand was a phone.

‘I did not stab that cat. I deny stabbing the cat and I’ve got nothing else I’m going to say on the matter.’

Bouquet did admit to taking pictures of dead cats, which were later found on his mobile phone – but told police he was concerned by reports of missing pets around his home. 

Chichester Crown Court was told photos of a dead cat were found on Bouquet’s mobile phone after it was seized by police.

Kyo is one of the nine cats Bouquet is accused of killing, along with Hendrix, Tommy, Hannah, Alan, Nancy, Gizmo, Ollie and Cosmo.

Another cat pictured on Bouquet’s phone was short-haired tabby Tommy, who was discovered bleeding on his owner Scott Rankin’s doorstep in November 2018. 

Police also found pictures of other stabbing victims including Tommy, tabby cat, and Nancy, a black cat, on his phone. Pictures showed both cats alive before they were stabbed to death. 

The security guard has been charged with criminal damage as under current legislation, cats and other animals are deemed to be property.

Bouquet, who has not attended for his trial and is being tried in his absence, has denied the charges.

The wave of stabbings which swept central Brighton, east Sussex between October 2018 – June 2019 left pet owners emotionally traumatised and upset.

Earlier the court heard Bouquet had been seen by neighbours taking photos outside the home of a cat around the time she was stabbed.

Neighbours saw him ‘up to no good’ and decided to watch him as he took pictures into the front garden.

Minutes later Nancy, a nine-year-old tabby cat, was found by owner Jeff Carter bleeding from a serious wound in her torso.

She was discovered hiding under a bed after leaving a trail of blood on the stairs and landing.

Nancy was rushed to a vets and operated on but she went into cardiac arrest the following day and died.

Chichester Crown Court heard a bald man wearing a black leather jacket, blue jeans and a silver earring in his ear was spotted by neighbours taking photographs outside Mr Carter’s home in Brighton.

The man, who was later identified as Bouquet in a police line-up, was seen standing directly in front of the house.

Neighbour Craig Nield said he saw the suspect looking at his phone before walking off.

Mr Nield went to the house of a friend who had earlier observed the suspect acting suspiciously outside the house.

The pair then watched from the house and allegedly saw Bouquet return minutes later after apparently walking round the block.

In a statement read to court Mr Nield said: ‘He was looking all around as if he was checking to see if he was being observed.’

He then allegedly faced Nancy’s house and appeared to be taking photos ‘low down on the floor’ before walking off.

Minutes later he received a Whatsapp message from Mr Carter asking him to help with his cat, Nancy, who had returned to the house bleeding heavily from a wound to her side.

She was rushed to Coastways Vets and underwent emergency surgery but sadly died the following day. 

The jury was told that in one month alone between October and November 2018 Bouquet allegedly stabbed seven cats.

In total Hannah, Wheatley, Alistair, Rigby, Gideon, Tommy and Samson, were stabbed during the period. Tommy and Hannah died from their injuries.

The trial continues.