A gay male escort used by Shrien Dewani has said the millionaire businessman was the "first ever client" he allowed to stay at his home.

Leipold Leisser, 43, who said he offered services such as role play, S&M, and fetishes, told the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town, South Africa, that Dewani asked him to "sleep over" after their meetings.

Prosecutor Adrian Mopp explained to the court that Dewani had disclosed to Mr Leisser that he was about to be engaged to his wife Anni, and could not find a way out without being disowned by his family.

Dewani is accused of Anni's murder during their honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010. He has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him, maintaining that the couple were the victims of a hijacking on November 13, 2010.

Mr Mopp said it was not in dispute that Dewani paid for Mr Leisser's services on September 18, 2009, February 4, 2010, and 17 April 2010, and that the two had email communication.

Mr Leisser told the court in a brief hearing that he initially had a private profile on gay fetish website, Recon, and then, in 2009, created a commercial website for himself under the name Gay Master One.

At the first and second meeting, Dewani went to Leisser's home and slept over.

"It was unusual and in fact, he was the first ever client I allowed to stay at my home. He asked me to sleep over," Mr Leisser said.

During Mr Leisser's evidence Dewani stared at him from the dock and lowered his head.

It is alleged that Dewani conspired with others to stage the hijacking in return for 15,000 rand (£850).

Anni Dewani's body was found in the abandoned shuttle taxi in Khayelitsha the following day.

Xolile Mngeni was convicted in 2012 of firing the fatal shot from the front passenger seat of the hijacked vehicle.

He died from a brain tumour in prison on October 18.