Michael Steele, 81, is set to be released from prison in a few weeks, despite his continued claim that he is the victim of a miscarriage of justice concerning the 1995 murders of three drug dealers in Rettendon, Essex.
A gangland killer jailed over a notorious "Essex Boys" murders is set to be released from prison within weeks, despite still maintaining his innocence.
Michael Steele, 81, was jailed for killing three drug dealers with a shotgun in their Range Rover 30 years ago. Steele and his friend Jack Whomes were given three life sentences in 1998 for the triple killing of Tony Tucker, 38, Pat Tate, 37, and Craig Rolfe, 26, in Rettendon, Essex, in December 1995. After a Parole Board hearing, which was adjourned several times, concluded on November 12, a summary of its findings published today said that Steele was fit for release.
It said: "Evidence was presented at the hearings regarding Mr Steele’s progress and custodial conduct during this sentence. His behaviour in prison had shown a marked improvement and Mr Steele had been engaging more closely with those supervising him. None of the witnesses considered that his risks would be imminent if Mr Steele was released to the community at this stage." Steele was found not to be suitable to participate in prison rehabilitation programmes "partly because he had maintained his innocence of involvement in the murders", the summary states.
Steele has more recently participated in a motivational training course as well as educational and vocational activities. He will be subject to strict limitations on the outside including a designated accommodation and restrictions on his contacts. Steele must also "be of good behaviour", disclose details of his finances, surrender his passport, and report for supervision or other appointments.
He will also be subject to an enhanced form of supervision or monitoring, including signing-in times, electronic tagging and a specified curfew. The former drug trafficker, who moved his cargo by sea, must also abide by restrictions relating to his use of electronic technology and contact with the media and not to own a boat, aeroplane or firearm.
Tate, Tucker - who acted as security for boxer Nigel Benn - and Rolfe, were found dead by farmers in the vehicle on the snowy track at Rettendon on the morning of December 7 1995. It is believed they were murdered with shotguns by Steele and Whomes the night before, in a row over a drug deal. The pair were given life with a minimum term of 23 years after being found guilty at the Old Bailey.
Tate, who had been released from prison just weeks before he was killed, was an associate of M25 road-rage killer Kenneth Noye, whom he had met in jail. The leader, Tucker, 38, was a doorman who controlled the drugs trade in a number of Essex nightclubs. Their murders inspired the 2000 film Essex Boys, starring Sean Bean.
The convictions of Whomes, now 62, and Steele rested on the testimony of convicted fraudster Darren Nicholls. Essex Police was struggling for leads when Nicholls, then 30, was arrested in May 1996 after 10kg of cannabis was found in his van. He had a corrupt relationship with an Essex detective and knew Whomes, Steele and the dead men. Nicholls turned informant, saying Steele lured the victims to Rettendon, as a passenger in the Range Rover following a drug dispute.
Whomes was released in early 2021. Steele’s parole hearing was previously adjourned for further information after Steele made corruption allegations against Essex Police.
The pair have previously failed to overturn their convictions at the Court of Appeal and in 2023 the Criminal Case Review Commission rejected an application from their lawyers to refer their convictions back to the Court of Appeal. A new application to the CCRC is currently under review after a team of former detectives submitted a dossier of evidence they claim casts doubt on the prosecutions.
In a rare step, the CCRC has accepted submissions from a third party other than the defence, before agreeing to carry out the fresh review of the convictions. A spokesperson said: "Applications have been received in relation to these individuals, and a review is currently underway. It would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment while the applications are under review.”
It is understood that the review follows the submission of a dossier of evidence from the team of former Met Police murder detectives who spent about three years investigating the case.
The Mirror revealed in 2017 that a crime lord was caught on a police tape offering to kill the trio because they had sold ecstasy to tragic teenager Leah Betts. In a secret meeting on the day Leah died in November 1995, he told a retired officer he could "take out" the suppliers. Tucker, Tate and Rolfe controlled the drugs trade in the Basildon club where the pill was bought. Within 21 days, the three dealers were found shot dead. Leah, whose father was a police officer, collapsed during her 18th birthday after taking an ecstasy pill. Her death was later found to have been caused by drinking 12 pints of water, causing swelling on the brain.
Former Met Police DCI Dave McKelvey, who led the review for his private investigation firm TM Eye, claims to have evidence that Nicholls was coached into what he said in the witness box. TM Eye’s report also suggests several lines of enquiry into other possible killers were not pursued by Essex Police. This includes the confession of East London criminal Billy Jasper who gave a signed statement saying he was the getaway driver for a different named and lone killer after he was arrested on suspicion of an armed robbery. His account was made to police in January 1996, about four months before Nicholls’ version of events.
Mr McKelvey said: "It is an appalling miscarriage of justice. The truth is finally beginning to emerge and the matter is now back with the CCRC, with damning new evidence of wide-scale police corruption."
An Essex Police spokesperson said: "This case has also been reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) who, as recently as January 2023, took the decision not to refer this case back to the Court of Appeal. We will of course always work with the CCRC and keep any new information under review."
Mr McKelvey said: "We have spent five years investigating the murders and following his release will continue to fight for justice for both Michael Steele and Jack Whomes as we believe we have new evidence that proves their innocence and hope the CCRC will review this as soon as possible. We welcome the Parole Board decision, which has been a long time coming."
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