Stephen Port: Family of Jack Taylor ‘cannot grieve until justice is done’

Jack Taylor. Pic: MPS (Image: MPS)

Jack Taylor, from Dagenham, was the fourth young gay man Port killed using the date rape drug GHB after luring him to his home in Cooke Street, Barking.

Jenny and Donna Taylor – who helped police catch Port – have fought for justice ever since Jack’s death in September 2015.

“None of us have had a chance to grieve because we’re fighting for Jack,” Jenny said.

Former chef Port was only arrested on suspicion of the murders in October 2015, despite being convicted of perverting the course of justice in June 2014 when police found he lied about finding the body of Anthony Walgate, 23, from Hull, outside his flat.

Barking serial killer Stephen Port. Pic: MET POLICE (Image: Archant)

Port dumped the bodies of Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Gabriel Kovari, 22 within St Margaret’s Church graveyard. He left Jack’s body nearby.

The 43-year-old was sentenced to life in prison for the murders, carried out between June 2014 and September 2015.

An important step in the families’ fight for justice is due with the police watchdog – the Independent Office for Police Conduct – to share its report into the Met investigation. Seven officers face the sack if found guilty of gross misconduct.

Asked what the family want from it, Donna said: “We want justice for Jack and the other boys. This is all it’s ever been about. As families we deserve it.”

Jenny, 30, added: “Jack should still be here. We want to make sure people who didn’t do their jobs are held accountable.”

The sisters said the family would feel let down by people in authority if they didn’t get what they yearned for.

On what motivated them, Jenny said she and Donna were acting as Jack’s mouthpiece.

“He can’t stand up and speak, but we can,” Donna added.

And the sisters get their fighting spirit from the close connection they share with their younger brother.

“Our passion comes from the connection of all three of us,” Donna, 40, said.

“He was always the one who looked after us. He would know from our faces if we had problems and he would want to sort it our for us,” Jenny said.

Donna added: “He was all about making sure everybody else was okay. You could be having a bad day and within five minutes of him turning up you felt like that bad day was so far away.”

What appears overwhelmingly clear is that Jack was full of love for his family and friends.

The forklift driver – who went to Robert Clack School in Gosfield Road, Dagenham – raised money for charities the British Heart Foundation and Help for Heroes.

A trained first aider, the former army cadet was a blood donor who had volunteered alongside St John’s Ambulance at the Dagenham Show.

“He always wanted to make a difference,” Donna said.

Asked how the family coped without him, Jenny said: “We’re lost. It feels weird because you can’t hear his laugh or see his smile.”

“Something funny would happen and you would expect him to burst out in laughter,” Donna added.

And the sisters – fighting for justice while raising seven children between them – paid tribute to the support the family received from friends, neighbours and complete strangers.

“Without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing,” Jenny said.

“The support has been amazing,” Donna added.

They thanked supporters for so far donating more than £6,000 towards a crowdfunding campaign to help cover legal costs for an upcoming inquest into the four deaths.

“That money helps us achieve the best legal representation,” Donna said.

And this Friday the family is holding a fundraising night at one of Jack’s regulars, Dagenham Trades Hall, in Charlotte Road, where a plaque has been installed in his memory.

Donna said: “The stress and strain and the worry is ridiculous. But our passion is for Jack. When you get support it lifts you. It’s nice to know other people feel something too.”