‘Brighton cat killer’ died of Covid on his fifty fifth birthday after the ex-Royal Navy gunner was jailed for fatally stabbing 9 pets throughout a seven-month spree

A former Royal Navy gunner dubbed the ‘Brighton cat killer’ died of Covid-19 on his fifty fifth birthday – simply months after being jailed for fatally stabbing 9 pets throughout a seven-month spree.

Stephen Bouquet, who additionally injured seven different cats, was jailed for 5 years and three months in July 2021.

However on January 5, 2022 – simply six months into his sentence – Bouquet died at Maritime Medway Hospital in Gillingham, Kent.

An inquest at County Corridor in Maidstone, Kent immediately heard the previous safety guard had been identified with thyroid cancer shortly after he was jailed.

He underwent a process to take away his thyroid gland at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital in London on October 27, 2021 – however the illness had unfold to his liver and lungs.

Senior Coroner Patricia Harding stated this had left him ‘very emaciated’ and that he was ‘reaching the tip of his life’.

A press release from the Jail Ombudsman at HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey, learn to the inquest by Ms Harding, stated when Bouquet was transferred to the jail on December 1, 2021, he was ‘frail with restricted mobility and used a strolling help and wheelchair to get round.’

The inquest was instructed the nurse accountable for his care requested a referral for palliative assist.

Within the weeks main as much as his loss of life Bouquet was admitted to hospital a number of instances with respiratory and cardiac points, on account of his ongoing sickness and a second analysis of Power Obstructive Pulmonary Dysfunction (COPD).

And on November 21, 2021, a Do Not Resuscitate order was put in place.

Bouquet was admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital for the ultimate time on December 27, 2021 as a result of his blood oxygen saturation ranges have been low and he had a persistent cough.

The next day, he examined constructive for Covid-19.

On January 4, 2022, Bouquet was identified with Covid-19 pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia – regardless of having obtained two vaccines and a booster for the viral illness.

He died at 9:50pm on January 5, 2022 – his fifty fifth birthday.

A autopsy examination carried out on January 17, 2022 decided the reason for loss of life to be Covid-19 pneumonitis and Power Obstructive Pulmonary Dysfunction.

The thyroid most cancers analysis was given as a contributing issue.

The inquest heard it was not clear whether or not Bouquet contracted Covid-19 in jail or throughout one in all his stays in hospital, however Ms Harding stated she was happy HMP Elmley had ample measures in place to guard prisoners from the unfold of the illness.

She gave a conclusion of pure causes.

Ms Harding stated: ‘On the time of his referral to HMP Elmley, Mr Bouquet was extraordinarily frail, he had poor mobility, he was susceptible to an infection and required assist with all of his every day actions.

‘Given how superior his most cancers was, there have been no additional therapy choices accessible.

‘In impact, the care he was being given was palliative.’

She continued: ‘He was formally identified with Covid-19 at Medway Maritime Hospital.

‘Regardless of scientific administration, he progressively deteriorated.

‘Sadly he was already frail with the most cancers and he was too weak to struggle the an infection.

‘He died on January 5, 2022. His fifty fifth birthday.

‘I’m happy that pure causes have been the reason for loss of life on this case.’

Ms Harding prolonged her condolences to Bouquet’s brother, Jefferson Bennett, who attended the inquest in particular person.

Safety guard Bouquet carried out his assaults on cats in Brighton, East Sussex, between October 2018 and Could 2019.

Throughout his trial at Hove Crown Courtroom, jurors heard accounts from a number of pet homeowners who had discovered their cats bleeding on their doorsteps.

He was lastly caught after the homeowners of a nine-month-old feline known as Hendrix seen a CCTV digicam close to to the place their animal had been stabbed.

The gadget had been arrange by a neighbour whose cat had suffered an analogous destiny a yr earlier.

Police examined the footage, which had captured Bouquet bending to stroke the cat earlier than taking one thing out of his rucksack and making a sudden jerk in the direction of the animal.

Throughout a search of his house, officers discovered a knife with feline blood on it and the 55-year-old’s DNA on the deal with.

Bouquet, who served within the Royal Navy for 22 years – together with in Northern Eire and Iraq – was discovered responsible of 16 offences of legal harm in relation to the animals, in addition to possession of a knife.

The pets killed have been named in courtroom on the time as Hendrix, Tommy, Hannah, Alan, Nancy, Gizmo, Kyo, Ollie and Cosmo.