Breaking Bad fan Stefano Brizzi found guilty of murdering Greenhithe police officer Gordon Semple who he met through gay dating app Grindr

Stefano Brizzi was found guilty at the Old Bailey of the murder of 59-year-old Gordon Semple.

During the trial the court heard how Brizzi, 50, was inspired by the TV series Breaking Bad as he tried to get away with the murder by dissolving the police officer's body with acid.

PC Semple, who lived with his partner Gary Meeks in Dartford, met Brizzi through gay dating app Grindr for a "hot dirty sleazy session" at the defendant's flat in Southwark.

Gordon Semple was murdered at Brizzi's flat in Southwark.

Brizzi told the court that Mr Semple died when a dog leash he was wearing as part of a sex game slipped.

In the days after the killing, crystal meth addict Brizzi was caught on CCTV buying buckets, a perforated metal sheet and cleaning products from a DIY store.

He then set about dismembering the body and stripping the flesh.

Brizzi was caught buying buckets on CCTV. Photo: PA Wire

Neighbours complained about the stench coming from Brizzi's flat and eventually called police who came across the grisly sight of "globules" of flesh floating in the bath, bags containing bones and a part of Pc Semple's head, and pools of human fat in the oven.

Brizzi, who was wearing pink underpants and sunglasses, was arrested as officers realised the enormity of what they had found.

The court heard there was evidence in the kitchen that Brizzi had chopped up the Inverness-born officer with a variety of utensils and may have even used chopsticks to eat morsels of cooked meat.

Following his arrest, Brizzi admitted killing and trying to dissolve the body of a policeman because "Satan told me to".

During the killing, he said he had turned away a man on his doorstep who had arrived for a sex party organised on Grindr.

Brizzi said: "I was right in the middle of strangling Gordon and I said to him 'Look, this is not the right time now, people are falling ill and it's a mess'."

The Italian also told police that he had "chucked" some of Pc Semple's body into the Thames and thrown away his police badge and belongings.

A human foot was later found by a member of Thames Mudlark Club near Bermondsey Wall.

The court heard that Brizzi was addicted to crystal meth, which had cost him his job at financial giant Morgan Stanley.

He had gone to Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings, but upset people by wearing a Breaking Bad T-shirt as the show "glorified" the drug.

He told the group he believed in the Devil and liked satanic rituals and he bragged of his bondage sex encounters.

In his home, police found a mask and dog leash with Pc Semple's DNA on it as well as a copy of the Satanic Bible.

Giving evidence, Brizzi, who has HIV, told jurors of the difficulties of being a gay man brought up in a religious Italian family. The youngest of three siblings, his Tuscan father was a civil servant and his uncle was a Catholic priest.

He told jurors that Pc Semple died in a "state of erotic bliss".

His lawyer, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC, insisted he was no "monster" and could not have eaten Pc Semple's flesh as it was covered in chemicals.

Throughout his evidence, Brizzi wept and cried out "I'm sorry" as he was confronted with what he had done.

He had earlier admitted a charge of obstructing a coroner by disposing of the body.

Pc Semple's brain and other internal organs have never been found.

Brizzi will be sentenced on December 9.

CCTV still of Brizzi buying bleach. Photo: PA Wire

Chief Superintendent Peter Ayling said: "The details of Gordon's murder have shocked and traumatised his partner, family, friends and colleagues.

"The responding officers and all those involved in the investigation into Gordon's death have been affected by it, made all the worse by knowing he was a colleague. It is a testimony to their professionalism that Brizzi has been convicted.

"Sadly, it is clear from the investigation that Gordon, a man who had dedicated the last three decades of his life to policing London, was behaving on duty in a way that no police officer should. Gordon held a position of trust, and he broke that trust.

"However, nothing should distract from the actions of Stefano Brizzi and the blame for Gordon's death lies firmly with this man.

"A killer whose cold calculated actions are so grotesque they are beyond comprehension. Nothing will bring Gordon back, but I hope that the verdict will help all those who loved and cared for him; who considered him a friend and who worked alongside him to come to terms with how they feel and start to move on."

The victim's family paid tribute to the 'loyal and much loved' police officer in a statement.

They said: “Gordon was a loyal and much loved long term partner, brother, brother in law, uncle, cousin and friend to all.

“We were devastated when the news broke of Gordon’s murder and the circumstances which are still incredibly hard to deal with. It is still insurmountably upsetting.

“At Gordon’s funeral we met many of his friends and work colleagues - we were proud to hear how fondly they thought of Gordon.

“Gordon will be sadly missed by our family. Gordon we miss you so much, may you rest in peace.”