Serial killer jailed for life for date-rape drug murders of young men

Pic:Life sentence: Stephen Port was found guilty of murdering four men at his Barking flat by giving them lethal doses of date rape drug
Crime reporter(wp/es):

A serial killer who murdered four young men to satisfy his twisted sexual fantasies has been condemned to die behind bars. 

Stephen Port, 41, killed his victims with overdoses of date-rape drug GHB at chemsex parties at his Barking flat. 

He was obsessed with so-called rape porn, and enjoyed having sex with young men while they were unconscious. 

Family and friends of the victims cheered and broke into spontaneous applause as Mr Justice Openshaw today imposed a whole life sentence. 

Port turned his head away from the public gallery as one person shouted out: "I hope you die a long slow death you piece of s***".

Port was captured after the first murder, but a string of police blunders meant he was let free to kill three more times and sexually abuse more men. 

The family of one of the murder victims is now planning to sue the Met over its handling of the case.

Port, a former bus garage chef, sat emotionless in the dock at the Old Bailey as Mr Justice Openshaw imposed the sentence and condemned his "wicked and monstrous" lies. 

Port was convicted on Wednesday at the Old Bailey of four counts of murder, four rapes, ten counts of administering a substance with intent. 

"The defendant has been convicted of the murders of four young men, including the murders committed in the course of satisfying his lust for penetrating young men who he had rendered unconscious by surreptitiously administration of drugs", he said. 

"I have no doubt the seriousness of this offending is so exceptionally high that a whole life sentence is justified, indeed it is required. 

"The result of which is the defendant will die in prison."

He said he had "no doubt" Port drugged the four men who died to have sex with them, and raped them while they were conscious.

Defence barrister David Etherington QC said: "In this period of his life, Stephen Port descended into a vortex in which drug taking filled his private life, where intense gratification of sexual desire was central. 

"His interest in sex with drugged young men graduated from a fetish to a fixation, and from a fixation into a compulsion."

Port first murdered Middlesex University fashion student Anthony Walgate, 23, in June 2014 after they had met on Grindr. 

He calmly went to work while Mr Walgate lay dead at his flat in Cooke Street, then dumped the body outside the block of flats and pretended to police he had just found. 

Police quizzed Port and exposed his lies that he did not know Mr Walgate, but failed to probe the death further and charged him only with perverting course of justice. 

Port was set free and killed twice more before serving a short prison sentence for his lies about Mr Walgate. 

Temporary lodger Gabriel Kovari, 22, and chef Daniel Whitworth, 21, who he met for sex, were both dumped in the ruins of Barking Abbey just a short walk from Port's home. 

The killer had planted bottles of GHB on all three bodies, and he planted a fake suicide note in Mr Whitworth's hand taking the blame for Mr Kovari's death. 

Detectives again believed the deaths were unexplained rather than suicide, not realising they had a serial killer on their hands until a year later, in September last year, when fourth victim Jack Taylor, 25, was found dead in the same churchyard. 

Mr Taylor's family had to convince police his death was foul play rather than a simple drug overdose, and CCTV then emerged of Port with the young man hours before his death. 

At trial, Port insisted he was innocent of all charges, including the four murders and string of sexual attacks on unconscious men. 

He stuck by his story that Mr Whitworth had committed suicide because guilty over Mr Kovari's death. 

"These were wicked and monstrous lies which must have caused immense distress to Daniel's family", said the judge. "Under cross-examination, this story unravelled and the truth emerged that he had killed them both."

In victim impact statements, the mother of Anthony Walgate said his family were "devastated" but took comfort that Port would never kill again, while Daniel Whitworth's father Adam said he is "consumed with grief". 

"Those closest to Daniel are facing a life sentence, a life sentence of grief", he said. 

The family of Jack Taylor said in a statement they had been forced to come to terms with his death and arrange a funeral while investigating themselves whether he had been murdered. 

"We have truly fallen apart as a family", they said. 

They are planning to sue the Met over its handling of the case, and have led criticism of the force for failing to catch Port sooner. 

The Met has referred itself to the IPCC and said 17 officers are being investigated for misconduct. Fifty-eight GHB related deaths are also being re-examined.

The judge noted the striking similarities between the deaths, but said it was "for others to decide" whether the Met had failed in its initial investigations.

Port used youthful-looking profile pictures and fake names on a myriad of social media accounts to contact his victims, and wore a blonde wig to cover his bald head. 

Port was found guilty by the jury of four counts of murder, four rapes, ten counts of administering a substance with intent, and four sexual assaults. 

He was cleared of a further three counts of rape.

Tube station shut and offices evacuated as police probe 'suspicious vehicle'

Pic:Hundreds of office workers stand in the street behind police cordon 
Staff reporter(wp/es):

Hundreds of workers were cleared from offices and a Tube station was shut while police officers investigated a suspicious vehicle in north London.

The Met police were called to reports of a "suspicious vehicle" on Ballard Lane in Finchley Central around 10am.

A cordon was set up in order to keep members of the public at distance and the road has been blocked in all directions.

Finchley Central station, on the Northern Line, was also evacuated and closed down while the operation was carried out.

Witnesses reported seeing huge crowds of people being led from their offices. Natalie Bowen wrote: "Alleged bomb scare in Finchley Central - they've evacuated lots of buildings and there's police and fire engines.

She added: "Lots of people milling about on Ballards Lane, Finchley - police cordon is blocking off road as far as Joiners Arms."

British Transport Police confirmed the station was closed "due to a police incident in the vicinity".

The cordon was reportedly lifted at around 10.45am.

Young boxer Kuba Moczyk dies after suffering tragic knock-out in first fight

Pic:Kuba Moczyk died in hospital
Staff reporter(wp/es):

A young boxer has died after being knocked out in his first fight.

Kuba Moczyk, 22, fell unconscious after a single punch during the final round of a boxing match in Great Yarmouth on Saturday. 

He was taken to James Paget University Hospital where he was unresponsive in intensive care with a bleed on the brain, and died on Wednesday evening. 

His twin sister Magdalena Moczyk had set up a GoFundMe page called "Wake up Kuba" in order to raise £20,000 for specialist treatment abroad. 

She managed to raise more than £4,000 before he died surrounded by family.

On the page she wrote that the pair's birthday was just days away on December 4, adding "my heart bleeds just thinking of it".

Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury told local boxing events promoter Leon Docwra he was "devastated" by the news, while friends revealed their shock on social media and paid tributes. 

Mr Docrwa, 41, said he had trained Mr Moczyk three years ago, and remembered him as a "happy, smiling" person who "did not have a nasty streak in his body".

Of the fight he said: "It was a big thing for him to do. He plucked up courage and got lots of support and everyone was cheering him on.

"And that was his first and final fight."

He said he believed Mr Moczyk's opponent was just 17 years old. 

A minute's silence will be held in the 22-year-old's memory at an event in Gorleston-On-Sea on Thursday night which Fury is due to attend, he added.

Lidl becomes first UK supermarket to pay workers London living wage

Business reporter(wp/es):

Lidl has announced it will pay the voluntary Living Wage of £8.45 an hour and £9.75 in London to thousands of its workers.

The supermarket giant said it was the first British supermarket to announce it will pay the voluntary rates, which will be paid from March to 5,500 employees, a quarter of its UK workforce.

The rates are higher than the national Living Wage of £7.20 an hour, which the Chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement will go up to £7.50 next April.

Lidl board director Nan Gibson said: "We recognise the contribution of each and every colleague within the business and we feel it's important to celebrate our achievements together.

"So it fills me with pride that our colleagues are amongst the best paid in the supermarket sector, and it's absolutely deserved for the commitment and value they bring to the company every day."

Christian Hartnagel, Lidl UK chief executive, said: "This announcement comes at a time when our business is going from strength to strength.

"It is one of many commitments that we will be making to our colleagues in the near future."

Lidl, which has 640 supermarkets in the UK, said its investment in the new rates would cost £3 million.

It added that it received a 20 per cent increase in job applications after announcing a year ago that it would be paying the voluntary wage rates.

Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: "Lidl's commitment to pay their staff the new real Living Wage rates is fantastic news and an acknowledgment of what we have always believed and advocated - that it is possible to pay the real Living Wage if you are a supermarket in the UK.

"We would love to see Lidl go further and signal their long term commitment by accrediting with the Living Wage Foundation to guarantee that all sub-contracted staff such as cleaners are paid the real Living Wage.

"This will also reassure workers that their wages will rise in line with the cost of living every year.

"Retailers such as IKEA, Oliver Bonas, Burberry and Majestic Wines have already signed up as Living Wage Foundation accredited employers but the title of becoming the first Living Wage accredited supermarket is still up for grabs."

Essex fire service worker sacked for pregnant woman slur after rescue

Staff reporter(wp/es):

A fire brigade worker has been sacked for a slur on a pregnant woman whose car became stuck in a flooded road.

The disgraced employee was fired for his comment, posted on social media, after Sherry Doran and her young son became trapped in 1.2 metres of water in Essex.

Fire crews had to smash both the rear and passenger windows to rescue the trapped pair from the car in Buttsbury Wash, near Ingatestone.

But people started posting offensive comments about Ms Doran on Facebook and a worker with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service also shared an offensive message.

A spokesman for the fire service said the employee was an agency worker and not a firefighter.

Sherry Doran, who lives in Suffolk, told the BBC she did not know the area and people suggesting she would put her children in danger was "extremely hurtful".

She said: "Sadly, a small number of people have used social media reports as a platform to make unfair judgements and comments towards me.

"In response to them, the only thing I can say is I went through years of heartbreak and painful treatments to bring my child into this world and I would die before I let any harm come to him or the baby that I'm currently carrying."

A Essex fire service spokesman said: "We recently took immediate action against an agency worker who displayed behaviours against our service values.

"The use of derogatory language against members of our public is something we will not tolerate."

Student stabbed outside South Harrow Tube station loses fight for life

Pic:Hussein Ahmed
Crime reporter(wp/es):

A student who was dragged from his bike by a gang of thugs outside a Tube station and stabbed in the chest has died in hospital, police said today.

Hussein Ahmed, 19, who was thought to  be studying at Uxbridge College, was attacked near South Harrow station.

His family, from Edgware, had maintained a bedside vigil in hospital but allowed his life-support machine to be turned off yesterday. He was the 12th teenager to be stabbed to death on the streets of London this year and the second this month.

The Metropolitan police today said its investigation had become a murder inquiry as it appealed for witnesses. Four men, aged in their late teens and early 20s, have been bailed until early December after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. 

The attack happened about 5.10pm last Friday outside Kebabish takeaway on Northolt Road. A post mortem was being held today at Northwick Park hospital mortuary in Harrow.

The teenager, who had two brothers and five sisters, was described by friends as a “lovely, enthusiastic young man with a smile permanently etched on his face” who played for a local football team and was never involved in gangs. 

A close friend who gave his name as Kadzo, 17, said: “Hussien was like an older brother to me. There’s absolutely no reason why anyone would want to hurt him. He wasn’t involved in the violence of the street, he had no interest in it. 

“His ambitions were to earn money and to look after his family. He was a peacemaker and had a clean, humble heart... We will always feel his presence his smile was contagious, always making jokes. He just got caught up in the wrong place.”

College friend Xhei Molla said: “He doesn’t deserve what happened and it’s truly devastating.”

Another friend said: “His life was taken from him by knife violence, he didn’t deserve that, he wasn’t involved in anything like that. A mother has lost her son because someone thought it was OK to carry a knife.”

Chancellor Philip Hammond announces £10m to tackle homelessness

Staff reporter(wp/es):
Philip Hammond put up £10 million to tackle homelessness today

 in an Autumn Statement to help families through Brexit.

He aimed to speed up the building of affordable housing in the capital, confirming plans for 90,000 more homes at lower cost or cheaper rents.

In a package overshadowed by massive borrowing and greater economic uncertainty from Brexit, he found spare change for a £1.5 million grant for play care and treatment of children with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, and another  £3 million for the RAF museum at Hendon.

Announcing new money for people sleeping rough, the Chancellor said “one person” left on the streets was too many.

He praised the Standard’s Christmas Appeal to raise vital funds to launch the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline, saying it would “make a huge difference to people’s lives”.

Mr Hammond briefed the Cabinet on his debut Autumn Statement this morning, with the City and MPs on tenterhooks for the first official  economic forecasts since Britain voted for Brexit.

A sharp downgrade in growth from next year and a big increase in borrowing were widely expected to limit his room for manoeuvre.

“This Government is determined to build an economy that works for  everyone, no matter their background,” Mr Hammond said as he confirmed the homeless help.

“One person without a home is one too many, and we want to identify solutions that look at all of the possible causes that lead to someone losing their home.”

He endorsed the Standard’s Christmas fundraising campaign, saying: “The Evening Standard has long been a champion of tackling homelessness and their current campaign will make a huge difference to people’s lives.

“This funding is another step in the right direction, and allows the Government to support different projects that will make a difference to people and communities across London and the rest of England.”

The cash doubles the Government’s existing Rough Sleeping Fund, which was announced earlier in the year. It will provide grants to local authorities that produce innovative projects to prevent people at risk of sleeping rough from spending even a single night on the streets, as well as giving support to those already sleeping rough. 

London is expected to be the largest beneficiary because it attracts thousands of people who are vulnerable to homelessness.

Money will be awarded to the best bidders — but among schemes being hailed in Whitehall as successes are the No First Night Out pilots in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and the City.

Mr Hammond was said to have had a dozen discussions with Theresa May in which he fended off Downing Street demands to loosen the purse strings ahead of the  possible pain of Brexit.

But the Chancellor was instead emphasising that the best way to improve Britons’ living standards was to provide economic stability, restore the public finances and boost productivity.

Policies trailed in advance by the Treasury were tailored to appeal to the 17 million who voted for Brexit in June. They included: 

Plans for 40,000 more affordable homes, with £1.4 billion of funding. In addition, restrictions will be relaxed allowing affordable housing cash to be used to support low-cost rents, shared ownership schemes and Rent to Buy.

A partial reverse to cuts in in-work benefits, by reforming Universal Credit so that families can keep more of what they earn.

A new taper will benefit three million households, according to officials, with a couple with two  children receiving housing help, where one parent earns £30,000 a year, being better off by £425 a year.

Unpopular letting agents’ fees that force renters to pay hundreds of pounds up-front will be scrapped, helping 4.3 million households in private rental homes.

Citizens Advice say such fees average £337, and Shelter says one in seven have to pay more than £500.

Reining in whiplash claims to reduce motor insurance premiums by £40 on average. 

For Labour, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said millions would still be worse off as the measures did not fully reverse “deep and damaging cuts” to benefits.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron branded the package “all smoke and mirrors”. He said: “This will prove to be about one thing and one thing only — the impact of Brexit on the British economy.”

The Evening Standard's Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.