Pictures of a male escort who 'fatally poisoned four men he met on gay dating app Grindr

The softly-spoken 40-year-old is accused of having sex with the victims while they were unconscious before dumping their bodies near his flat.

A chef appeared in court yesterday accused of murdering four young men he met through gay dating app Grindr.

Stephen Port allegedly invited the men back to his flat where he gave them fatal doses of the party drug GHB

Stephen Port allegedly invited the men back to his flat where he gave them fatal doses of the party drug GHB, known as liquid ecstasy.

It is beleieved that the four men met their untimely daeths in the early hours of the morning over the 15 month period that Stephen Port met them

Police had previously ruled out foul play on two of the men, found dead within a month of each other in the same East London churchyard.

Stephen Port. Picture Credit: Daily Mail

Detectives began the hunt for a serial killer only last week after they finally linked the deaths. Port was arrested on Thursday and has been charged with four counts of murder and four counts of administering a poison with intent to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm.

As Port appeared in court, photographs emerged of him as a child – with a cheeky grin and mop of auburn hair – as well as online images of him posing stripped to the waist.

Yesterday the balding chef stood in the dock at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court in East London wearing a police-issue grey tracksuit.

The 4 men were given some doses of GHB  which is known as liquid ecstasy, GHB is popular in clubs because it gives revellers an experience of euphoria and an increased sex drive.

But the Class C controlled substance became known as the date rape drug after being used by sex attackers. 

It is odourless and colourless, making it hard to detect if has been put in your glass.

Victims are rendered unconscious for up to six hours and often wake with only hazy memories of what has happened. 

It has also been described as ‘liquid coma’ because of how easy it is to overdose. 

Excessive amounts can lead to fits, unconsciousness or death.

GHB was made illegal in 2003 and anyone caught in possession can be jailed for two years. 

But it can still be bought under the counter at sex shops and on the internet, where it is marketed as an aphrodisiac for as little as £5 a bottle.

It was first used as a central nervous system depressant to treat sleep disorders, promote fat reduction and muscle development, until it was banned for sale.