Latest news with #RettendonMurders
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Essex Boys' triple-killer Michael Steele released from prison after 27 years
A triple killer convicted of the notorious "Essex Boys" murders has been released from prison after 27 years. Michael Steele was jailed alongside Jack Whomes in 1998 for the murders of Patrick Tate, 37, Tony Tucker, 38, and Craig Rolfe, 26. They were shot dead at point-blank range on an isolated farm track at Rettendon, , in 1995 in what prosecutors said was a row over a drug deal. 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. Steele and Whomes maintained their innocence following their convictions, which were based in part on evidence from "supergrass" Darren Nicholls, who said he was the getaway driver. Their appeals were rejected and in 2006 Lord Justice Kay said there was no "element of unsafety" over the convictions. The case was also reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which decided in 2023 not to refer it back to the Court of Appeal. The Parole Board after a "marked improvement" in his behaviour and because keeping him locked up was no longer necessary to protect the public. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood challenged the decision, arguing it was legally irrational, and asked for his case to be looked at again. However, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed Steele was let out in May. An MoJ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Craig Rolfe, Tony Tucker and Pat Tate. "This decision was made by the independent Parole Board after a thorough risk assessment. "Michael Steele will be on licence for the rest of his life, with strict conditions and intensive probation supervision. He faces an immediate return to prison if he breaks the rules." Read more from Sky News: Those conditions include staying at a designated address, giving up his passport, wearing an electronic tag and having a curfew. Other rules on using technology and speaking to the media are in place - and he won't be able to own a firearm, plane or boat. Whomes was released from jail in 2021 and is also subject to strict licence conditions
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
'Essex Boys' triple-killer Michael Steele released from prison after 27 years
A triple killer convicted of the notorious "Essex Boys" murders has been released from prison after 27 years. Michael Steele was jailed alongside Jack Whomes in 1998 for the murders of Patrick Tate, 37, Tony Tucker, 38, and Craig Rolfe, 26. They were shot dead at point-blank range on an isolated farm track at Rettendon, Essex, in 1995 in what prosecutors said was a row over a drug deal. 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. Steele and Whomes maintained their innocence following their convictions, which were based in part on evidence from "supergrass" Darren Nicholls, who said he was the getaway driver. Their appeals were rejected and in 2006 Lord Justice Kay said there was no "element of unsafety" over the convictions. The case was also reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which decided in 2023 not to refer it back to the Court of Appeal. The Parole Board said in February that Steele could be freed on licence after a "marked improvement" in his behaviour and because keeping him locked up was no longer necessary to protect the public. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood challenged the decision, arguing it was legally irrational, and asked for his case to be looked at again. However, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed Steele was let out in May. An MoJ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Craig Rolfe, Tony Tucker and Pat Tate. "This decision was made by the independent Parole Board after a thorough risk assessment. "Michael Steele will be on licence for the rest of his life, with strict conditions and intensive probation supervision. He faces an immediate return to prison if he breaks the rules." Those conditions include staying at a designated address, giving up his passport, wearing an electronic tag and having a curfew. Other rules on using technology and speaking to the media are in place - and he won't be able to own a firearm, plane or boat.
Sky News
13-02-2025
- Sky News
Man convicted of 'Essex Boys' murders to be released from prison after 27 years
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. 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. Whomes was released from jail in 2021 on strict licence conditions. Steele, who was 55 when he was sentenced, has now also been released by the Parole Board. After hearing evidence, it said there had been a "marked improvement" in his 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.
Sky News
13-02-2025
- Sky News
Michael Steele: Man convicted of 'Essex Boys' murders to be released from prison after 27 years
One of the men convicted of the notorious "Essex Boys" murders will be released from prison on licence after 27 years, the Parole Board has said. Michael Steele, who is now in his 80s, was jailed for life in 1998 alongside Jack Whomes at the Old Bailey for the murders of Patrick Tate, 37, Tony Tucker, 38, and Craig Rolfe, 26. The men 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. 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, based in part on the evidence of "supergrass" Darren Nicholls, who said he had been the getaway driver. But their appeals were rejected and in 2006 Lord Justice Kay said there was no "element of unsafety" relating to the original convictions of both defendants. The case has also been reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and the decision was made in January 2023 not to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal. Whomes was released from jail in 2021 on strict licence conditions.
