Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Stephen Port is accused of drugging the men with GHB, reports Daniel Sandford

Suspected serial killer Stephen Port has appeared via videolink at the Old Bailey charged with poisoning and murdering four young men.

Mr Port, of Barking, London, is accused of killing the men after contacting them via dating websites between June 2014 and September this year.

The 40-year-old allegedly gave his victims large amounts of the drug GHB.

The hearing lasted approximately 10 minutes, with a provisional trial date set for April.

Image copyright Facebook Image caption Jack Taylor was a fork-lift truck operator

Mr Port, of Cooke Street, Barking, appeared via a link from Pentonville Prison. He was remanded in custody.

The charges relate to the deaths of:

Anthony Patrick Walgate, a 23-year-old fashion and design student from Barnet who was pronounced dead on Cooke Street, Barking, on 19 June 2014.

Gabriel Kovari, 22, from Lewisham, whose body was found near the churchyard of St Margaret's Church, North Street, Barking, on 28 August 2014.

Jack Taylor, a 25-year-old forklift truck driver from Dagenham, whose body was found near the Abbey Ruins close to North Street, Barking, on 14 September this year.

Daniel Whitworth, 21, an aspiring chef from Gravesend, Kent, whose body was also found near the churchyard on 20 September 2014.

The deaths were not initially linked but after further investigation they were referred to the Metropolitan Police homicide and major crime command on October 14.