‘Brighton cat killer’ jeered at by mob of moggy-lovers after appearing in court
A SECURITY guard ran a gauntlet of hate as he was accused of killing and mutilating 16 cats.
Steve Bouquet, 53, needed police protection from a mob of jeering moggy-lovers after appearing in court.
People packed the public gallery to see Bouquet face allegations he used a knife or sharp instrument to attack the cats at night over nine months in three areas of Brighton.
He is accused of destroying property in relation to nine dead cats and damaging property in relation to seven that survived.
The cats were named in court papers as Hendrix, Tommy, Hannah, Alan, Nancy, Gizmo, Kyo, Ollie, Cosmo, Alistair, Wheatley, Rigby, Samson, Jasper, Maggie and Gideon.
The value of the alleged criminal damage he inflicted on them was put at more than £32,000, Brighton JPs were told. As it is more than £5,000, Bouquet faces up to ten years’ jail if convicted.
Kirsty Craghill, defending, said Bouquet, who is also accused of possessing a knife, would be denying the charges.
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After shaven-headed Bouquet, of Brighton, was bailed, he was shepherded to a police station while being jostled, booed, hissed and yelled at.
Onlookers who tried to film him were held back by plain clothes officers.
He will appear at Lewes crown court next month for a formal plea and legal directions.
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