Families of Stephen Port’s victims to sue Met Police who ‘failed loved ones because they were gay’
The families of the gay men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port are suing the Metropolitan Police for over £200,000.
They have claimed that the police failed to link the murders to homophobia.
They are also claiming that officers discriminated against the victims because of their sexuality.
17 family members are brining the lawsuit which is set to be heard in the High Court.
Documents from the case have revealed that the case is seeking “aggravated and exemplary damages” over “breaches of duty and inaction” committed by the force.
17 police officers are facing misconduct investigations after they admitted to “missed opportunities” when it came to spotting similarities between the deaths of the victims.
The killings took place between June 2014 and September 2015, but a series of police blunders meant officers failed to make connections between them or investigate Port, who was already known to authorities.
The case was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25 were all killed by Port.
The 41-year-old met the victims through dating apps Grindr and Fitlads before spiking them with the liquid ecstasy drug, GHB, and dumping their bodies in a churchyard next to his home in Barking.
The former chef and escort made the murders appear to be suicides.
He used the apps to buy the drug, GHB, that he used to kill them.
The man who supplied Port the drugs he used to kill his victims, 23-year-old Gerald Matovu, has pleaded guilty to supplying a Class B drug, supplying a class C drug, and a third charge of offering to supply GHB.
The drug dealer, from London, made clear that he had no idea what Port was planning to do with the drugs.
During the trial, the court heard how Port had become obsessed with “drug-rape” pornography which led to the violent murders.
Port faced additional charges of rape and poisoning after a number of other victims, who have been granted anonymity, came forward with their stories.
