Solved case · 1995
Also known as Range Rover murders · Essex Boys murders
The short answer
Three Essex drug dealers — Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe — were found shot dead in a Range Rover on a farm track in Rettendon, Essex, on 6 December 1995. Michael Steele and Jack Whomes were convicted of the murders in 1998 following a police informant's testimony, though the reliability of that evidence has since been questioned.
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Suggest coverage for Rettendon murdersOn the morning of 6 December 1995, farmer Peter Theobald and his friend Ken Jiggins discovered a metallic blue Range Rover parked on a farm track in the village of Rettendon, Essex. Inside were the bodies of three men who had been shot dead: Anthony "Tony" Tucker, 38, who headed a firm providing nightclub security across Essex and had also worked as a security guard for former boxing champion Nigel Benn; Patrick "Pat" Tate, 37, an amateur bodybuilder from Rochford, Essex; and Craig Anthony Rolfe, 26. All three men were known to be involved in drug dealing. The vehicle bore the registration F424 NPE.
Essex Police launched a major investigation codenamed Operation Century. This initial operation did not result in any arrests or evidence sufficient for a criminal prosecution. A prosecution was eventually brought based on separate police operations that followed the closure of Operation Century.
Two men, Jack Arthur Whomes, of Brockford, Suffolk, and Michael John Steele, of Great Bentley, Colchester, were tried at the Old Bailey and convicted of the three murders on 20 January 1998. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution's key witness was Darren Nicholls, a police informer from Braintree, Essex, who had been a former associate of the two men and gave evidence against them at trial. Mobile phone records were used to corroborate Nicholls's testimony, but the reliability of these records has since been questioned.
During the investigation, it was suggested that the killings may have been connected to the death of Leah Betts, a teenager who died in November 1995 after taking an ecstasy tablet; Tucker was believed to have been ultimately responsible for supplying the drug.
In the two decades following their convictions, Whomes and Steele made unsuccessful attempts to challenge their convictions through the courts. Whomes's 25-year sentence was reduced by two years in 2018 in recognition of his conduct in prison. On 25 January 2021, following a Parole Board hearing, it was announced that Whomes would be released on licence after serving 23 years. On 13 February 2025, the Parole Board confirmed that Steele, then aged 82, would also be released on licence; reports in June 2025 confirmed his release, with licence conditions applying for the remainder of his life.
On 15 February 2025, it was reported that the Criminal Cases Review Commission had received an application to review the convictions of both Whomes and Steele. The case has since become the basis for numerous books, films and television documentaries.
Leah Betts died after taking an ecstasy tablet; Tony Tucker was believed to be ultimately responsible for supplying the drug.
Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe were shot dead in a Range Rover on a farm track in Rettendon, Essex; the bodies were found the following morning by farmer Peter Theobald and Ken Jiggins.
Jack Whomes and Michael Steele were convicted of the three murders at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Whomes's 25-year sentence was reduced by two years due to his conduct while incarcerated.
Following a Parole Board hearing, it was announced that Jack Whomes would be released from prison on licence after serving 23 years.
The Parole Board confirmed that Michael Steele would be released from prison on licence.
BBC News reported that the Criminal Cases Review Commission had received an application to review the convictions of both Whomes and Steele.
It was reported that Steele, aged 82, had been released and would be on licence for the rest of his life.
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
Aged 38; head of a nightclub security firm and security guard for former boxer Nigel Benn; shot dead in the Range Rover.[3]
Aged 26; shot dead in the Range Rover.[3]
Aged 37; amateur bodybuilder from Rochford, Essex; shot dead in the Range Rover.[3]
Convicted of the three murders on 20 January 1998 at the Old Bailey; sentenced to life imprisonment; released on licence in 2021 after serving 23 years.[3]
Convicted of the three murders on 20 January 1998 at the Old Bailey; sentenced to life imprisonment; released on licence in 2025.[3]
From the record
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