A SECURITY guard will face a jury over allegations of criminal damage after nine cats were killed in a spate of nighttime attacks in the Brighton area.

Seven more cats were seriously injured in the string of crimes.

The attacks are alleged to have taken place in and around the centre of the East Sussex city, many of them close to Brighton Railway Station.

Steve Bouquet, 53, appeared at Hove Crown Court on Thursday wearing a black leather jacket over a black shirt and black jeans.

Bouquet, of Rose Hill Terrace in Brighton, East Sussex, denies 16 counts of criminal damage and one of possession of a knife.

Judge Paul Tain told Bouquet that he will face trial on September 14 2020, with the case set to last up to two weeks.

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

The charges relate to incidents between October 2 2018 and June 1 2019.

Cats and other animals are considered as property under legislation, and criminal damage can attract a heavier sentence than animal cruelty.