The Brighton cat killer who slaughtered beloved pets in a series of deadly attacks has died behind bars, the Prison Service confirmed.
Steve Bouquet was serving a prison sentence for his brutal campaign against cats which saw nine killed and seven wounded in East Sussex.
The former Royal Navy gunner tormented pet owners across the city, leaving them on edge as they heard the news of his killing spree between October 2018 and May 2019.
CCTV footage captured by the owner of a dead feline played an instrumental role in bringing him to justice, reports The Mirror.
On Tuesday, the Prison Service said he had died in hospital on January 6.
At his sentencing hearing, the court was told Bouquet had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which had spread to his liver and lungs.
The pet killer was jailed for five years and three months at Hove Crown Court last July after being found guilty of 16 offences of criminal damage in relation to the cats, as well as possession of a knife.
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.
Emma O'Sullivan, owner of Gizmo, wept as she told the court: "I miss Gizmo every day. After it happened it could not sleep. I spent many months in therapy working through what had happened."
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Katerine Mattock, who lived with Alan the cat, said: "This was a murder of an innocent and much-loved cat called Alan. Alan was my family. He made my house a home.
"One minute he was running around the kitchen then next he was dead, covered in blood.
Sentencing Bouquet, Judge Jeremy Gold QC said his behaviour was "cruel, it was sustained and it struck at the very heart of family life".
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."
Bouquet served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, including in Northern Ireland and Iraq.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Steve Bouquet died at Maritime Medway Hospital on January 6, 2022.
"The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed."
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