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Security guard to face trial after nine cats killed in nighttime attacks

Steve Bouquet is escorted away from Brighton Magistrates Court after appearing on 16 counts of criminal damage over attacks in Brighton on cats between October 2018 and June 2019. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday January 23, 2020. See PA story COURTS Cats. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Steve Bouquet is escorted away from Brighton Magistrates Court. (Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

A security guard has denied charges of criminal damage after nine cats were killed in nighttime attacks across Brighton.

Steve Bouquet is also accused over attacks that left seven other cats with serious injuries, leaving the community shocked.

The 53-year-old appeared at Hove Crown Court today to plead not guilty to 16 counts of criminal damage and one count of possessing a knife.

The Crown Prosecution Service has said the criminal damage charges did not detract from the seriousness of the allegations.

Bouquet is due to stand trial on September 14 2020.

He had previously appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court, in which he also pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are said to have happened between October 2018 and June 2019.