Serial killer's dealer jailed for Grindr murder Published duration 11 September 2019

image copyright Met Police image caption Gerald Matovu pleaded guilty to a string of offences following a trial

A drug dealer who supplied serial killer Stephen Port has been jailed for at least 31 years for the murder of a businessman.

Gerald Matovu, 26, killed Eric Michels, 54, with a fatal overdose of GHB - the same drug his former customer used to kill four men.

Matovu and lover Brandon Dunbar, 24, stole from other victims targeted via gay dating apps, The Old Bailey heard.

Sentencing, Judge Anne Molyneux said Matovu was an "experienced poisoner".

He had previously admitted selling GHB to Port, but had denied killing Mr Michel, who was found dead in bed by his 14-year-old daughter.

The pair met through the Grindr app and took a cab back to Mr Michels' flat on 18 August 2018.

Passing sentence, the judge said Matovu, who now identifies as female, was a "highly dangerous predator".

He was jailed for a total of 39 offences relating to 14 victims.

image copyright Met Police image caption Eric Michels was found dead at his home in Chessington in August 2018

Mr Michel's ex-wife, Diane Michels, said the two men had a "callous disregard" for his life.

"We have to live with the knowledge the last person Eric saw was the person who took his life", she said.

Matovu and his partner Dunbar drugged some victims, calculating they would be "too embarrassed to report what happened", said the judge.

image copyright Met Police image caption Brandon Dunbar admitted using Mr Michels' card and taking £300 from his account

Co-defendant Dunbar, of Forest Gate, east London, was jailed for 18 years and told he must serve at least two-thirds in prison.

The judge also imposed an extended sentence of five years, to be served on licence.

Jurors were not told about Matovu supplying drugs to Port, who was given a whole-life term for the murders of four young men he poisoned with GHB.