The killer of four young men, one of whom lived in Golders Green, will serve a whole life sentence for their murder, as well as the sexual assault of seven other victims.

Stephen Port, a chef from Barking, was found guilty of 22 different offences at the Old Bailey on Wednesday (November 23) and he was sentenced today (November 25).

The 41-year-old used gay dating services such as Grindr to ensnare his victims, who would then be plied with a date rape drug and sexually assaulted while unconscious.

One of the four men he killed was Anthony Walgate, a 23-year-old student originally from Hull but living in Golders Green

On June 19 2014 Mr Walgate, a fashion student at Hendon’s Middlesex University, was found collapsed outside Port's block of flats in Barking.

Port had dialled 999 to report someone had collapsed or was drunk, although he had not given his name, and Mr Walgate was pronounced dead at the scene.

Evidence showed Port had arranged for Mr Walgate, who occasionally worked as a male escort, to come to his home on June 17 2014 after they met via a website.

After making the arrangements Port searched online for drug-rape pornography.

Port was arrested for perverting the course of justice after police uncovered their internet exchanges and he was jailed for eight months following a trial.

Later investigations revealed Port also killed Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25, while seven other victims were drugged and raped.

He dumped their bodies in a graveyard near his flat and attempted to cover up his guilt by disposing of their mobile phones, repeatedly lying to police and planting a fake suicide note in the hand of one of his victims taking the blame for the death of another.

Port denied all charges against him.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield said: “These evil crimes have left entire families, a community and a nation in shock.

“I have previously said Port is one of the most dangerous individuals I've encountered in almost 28 years of policing and a full life term in prison was the only appropriate punishment in the circumstances.

“All of those affected have my deepest sympathies and I hope they can find some solace from the fact that Port will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.”

Police are appealing for anyone else who Port may have assaulted to come forward with information and anyone affected by the case is urged to contact the police incident room on 020 8358 0400.

Initially, the four men’s deaths were not treated as linked and an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into initial police handling of the four deaths before they were formally linked continues.