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Man convicted of 'Essex Boys' murders to be released from prison after 27 years

The Parole Board said there had been a "marked improvement" in Michael Steele's behaviour and keeping him locked up was no longer necessary to protect the public.

Thursday 13 February 2025 16:52, UK

HANDOUT PHOTO - BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE.Undated Essex Police handout photos of (l-r) Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe, who all died in a 1995 triple gangland killing which came to be known as the "Essex boys murder". Michael Steele, 62, of Great Bentley, Essex, and Jack Whomes, 44, of Brockford, Suffolk, who were jailed for the murders, will learn Wednesday February 22, 2006, whether they have won appeals against their convictions. Defence lawyers have argued that fresh evidence shows a crucial witness at the men's 1998 trial, Darren Nicholls, had entered into media arrangements under which he was to be paid for his story and that he had a financial incentive in their being found guilty. Prosecution lawyers have indicated they will seek a retrial if the convictions are quashed. See PA story COURTS Essex. PRESS ASSOCIATION photo. Picture credit should read: Essex Police/PA.
Image: (L-R) Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe were shot dead. Pics: PA
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One of the men convicted of the notorious "Essex Boys" murders will be released from prison on licence after 27 years.

Michael Steele, who is now in his 80s, was jailed for life in 1998, alongside Jack Whomes, for the murders of Patrick Tate, 37, Tony Tucker, 38, and Craig Rolfe, 26.

They were shot dead at point-blank range in a Range Rover on an isolated farm track at Rettendon, Essex, in December 1995 in what prosecutors said was a row over a drug deal.

Michael Steele, who along with Jack Whomes was found guilty of executing three drug barons after an underworld row. The bodies of Patrick Tate, 37, Anthony Tucker, 38 and Craig Rolfe, 26, were found in Range Rover in a remote lane in Rettendon, Essex
Image: Michael Steele was jailed for life when he was 55. Pic: PA

The gangland executions, also known as the Rettendon Murders or the Range Rover Murders, inspired the 2000 film Essex Boys, starring Sean Bean, as well as The Rise Of The Footsoldier franchise.

All three of the victims were known to police.

Mr Tucker ran security for Raquels, the nightclub where Leah Betts had taken the ecstasy tablet that led to her death less than a month before the murders.

Steele and Whomes maintained their innocence following their convictions, which were based in part on the evidence of "supergrass" Darren Nicholls, who said he had been the getaway driver.

Their appeals were rejected and in 2006 Lord Justice Kay said there was no "element of unsafety" over the original convictions.

The case has also been reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and a decision was made in January 2023 not to refer it back to the Court of Appeal.

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Whomes was released from jail in 2021 on strict licence conditions.

After hearing evidence, the Parole Board said there had been a "marked improvement" in Steele's behaviour while in prison and keeping him locked up was no longer necessary to protect the public.

Steele will have to meet strict conditions such as staying at a designated address, attending probation appointments, giving up his passport and wearing an electronic tag.

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