He told the inquests into the deaths at Barking Town Hall on Friday: “I think it’s been said here that the police were underfunded and under emotional strain.

“But I think, when grieving families, boyfriends and friends are getting close to the truth and trying to raise the alarm 10 months before the Met are even willing to acknowledge the deaths are suspicious, it can’t be a funding issue.”

Mr Pape added: “The only thing that makes sense about how disturbingly incompetent this investigation was is prejudice.

“If the lives and deaths of young gay and bi men aren’t treated with significance and respect, I think that amounts to institutional homophobia.”

Port was given a whole life sentence in 2016 after being found guilty of murdering Anthony Walgate, 23, Mr Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, and final victim Jack Taylor, 25, between June 2014 and September 2015.

‘I didn’t trust the police’

Mr Pape said he contacted gay charities, the gay press and campaigner Peter Tatchell to explain his concerns, adding: “I didn’t trust the police to link it properly.

“I was concerned about young, gay men in Barking.”

Mr Pape wept as he described hearing that Port had been arrested.

He said: “I think I felt a mix of emotions, certainly a kind of anger because it felt like I had these concerns… that an older man might be preying on younger men… and I felt like I hadn’t been listened to.

“I wish I could go back and tell myself to push it more.”