The campaigner "helped a lot of people" (julian aubrey/Facebook)

A prominent LGBT rights campaigner who “loved people” has been found stabbed to death in his home.

Julian Aubrey was a former co-chairman of London’s Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea LGBT liaison group who his brother-in-law said “helped a lot of people.”

The 55-year-old worked as a counsellor with victims of sexual abuse, offering training to patients who dealt with what he called “embedded pain.”

Neighbours described hearing screams in the early hours of the morning.

Aubrey was found with multiple stab wounds in his home in west London on Monday afternoon.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

His brother-in-law Nigel Turner told the Evening Standard: “Julian was a great guy.

“I can’t come to terms with what happened.

“He had his problems, but he had a lot of time for other people,” he continued.

“He did a lot of counselling work. He was a good counsellor, he had great empathy, and I’m sure he helped a lot of people.

“He loved art; he loved people. It’s all a bit raw,” he added.

A neighbour of Aubrey’s said police had been called to the complex to handle disputes on many occasions.

“He does bits and pieces to wind people up,” he explained.

“He antagonised people, but he’s a human being.

“He didn’t deserve to die in the manner he did.”

Detective Chief Inspector Luke Marks, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: “I am appealing for anyone who was recently in the area of Shaftesbury Place and who may have heard a disturbance coming from one of the flats to contact us.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who may know why Julian was targeted in his own home in such a violent way.”

Of the three men who have been arrested, two, aged 48 and 56, were held at the scene of the crime on Monday.

A third man, 42, was arrested this morning.