'Brighton cat killer' died from Covid-19
Stephen Bouquet died on his 55th birthday in January 2022 whilst serving a jail sentence for the stabbings
An inquest has found a man nicknamed the Brighton cat killer died of Covid-19 in prison after being diagnosed with cancer.
Stephen Bouquet died in January 2022 at the age of 55 whilst he was serving a five years and three month sentence for stabbing 16 cats between October 2018 and May 2019 - nine of whom died.
The inquest, held at Maidstone Coroner's Court in Kent, ruled Bouquet died of natural causes.
He was receiving end of life care for thyroid cancer whilst incarcerated at HMP Elmley.
Bouquet tested positive for coronavirus on December 28, a day after being admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital with a cough and breathing difficulties.
The coroner, Patricia Harding, said it wasn't clear where he'd contracted coronavirus.
The inquest heard how Bouquet's condition "progressively deteriorated" despite him receiving antibiotics, oxygen, and medication for coronavirus.
He died on 5 January 2022, his 55th birthday.
Ms Harding apologised to Bouquet's brother for the length of time taken to determine the cause of his death, adding that "the lasing effects" of the pandemic added to the length of time of the investigation.
Bouquet had previously served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, including in Northern Ireland and Iraq, and had been a security guard.