Serial killer Stephen Port has had an application to appeal against his murder convictions thrown out.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Stephen Port victims clockwise from top left: Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, Jack Taylor and Anthony Walgate. Picture credit: MET POLICEStephen Port victims clockwise from top left: Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, Jack Taylor and Anthony Walgate. Picture credit: MET POLICE (Image: Archant)

Port was sentenced to life in prison in 2016 after he was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury of killing four men and carrying out a string of sexual offences at his home in Cooke Street, Barking.

A judge dismissed the 43-year-old’s application to appeal at the first stage ruling out the need for his case to be heard before a panel of judges.

Jack Taylor, from Dagenham, was the fourth young gay man Port killed using a date rape drug.

Hi sisters, Jenny and Donna Taylor, said: “To be honest we’re glad the appeal’s been dismissed because of the worry it’s caused on top of everything else.”

Barking and Dagenham Post: Sisters Donna and Jenny Taylor whose brother Jack was murdered by Stephen Port. Picture: KEN MEARSSisters Donna and Jenny Taylor whose brother Jack was murdered by Stephen Port. Picture: KEN MEARS (Image: Archant)

They described how shocked they felt after finding out Port made the move in August.

The former chef received a life sentence for the murders of Anthony Walgate, 23, originally from Hull, Gabriel Kovari, 22, from Lewisham, Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend and Port’s last victim, Jack, 25.

Port stalked his victims online and plied them with drinks spiked with fatal doses of GHB before dumping their bodies in or near St Margaret’s Church, Barking.

The Met referred its handling of the case to the Independent Office of Police Conduct which has concluded its investigation into potential misconduct by 17 officers who worked on the case.

The chief coroner, Mark Lucraft QC, confirmed last month that inquests into the deaths would be led by a judge following an appeal from the victims’ families.

The High Court last year quashed inquests into Gabriel and Daniel’s deaths.

The families hope the new inquest will expose a catalogue of failings by Scotland Yard that left Port free to carry on killing after he was jailed for lying to police about the first murder.

While on bail awaiting sentencing, Port murdered twice more and struck again after his release from prison.