Jack Whomes arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in 2006
- Credit: PA
A man convicted of carrying out a triple gangland killing, known as the Essex Boys murders, has been deemed suitable for release from prison by the parole board.
Jack Whomes, formerly of Brockford, Suffolk, still protests his innocence after being jailed for life in 1998, alongside Michael Steele, for the murders of three men found shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon, Essex, in 1995.
Prosecutors said the killings of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate, and Craig Rolfe took place after a row over a drug deal. The case later inspired the 2000 film, Essex Boys.
Can be freed - Jack Whomes More than 25 years after the infamous Essex Boys murderers, one of the convicted killers can be freed. Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe were all shot dead while sat in a Range Rover down a farm track just 300 yards away from the busy A130 in Rettendon on December 6, 1995. Jack Whomes was convicted of murder three years later - along with Michael Steele - and sentenced to life in prison. However, the Parole Board has confirmed Whomes can be freed.
Search - police look down a farm track where three bodies were found inside a Range Rover vehicle
One of the men convicted of the “Essex Boys” gangland murders can be freed from prison, the Parole Board has said.
Jack Whomes was jailed for life in 1998 alongside Michael Steele for the murders of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate, and Craig Rolfe.
The three men were found shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon, near Chelmsford, Essex, in 1995.
The killings took place after a row over a drug deal, prosecutors said, and the case later inspired the 2000 film Essex Boys starring Sean Bean.
Jack Whomes was handed a life sentence in 1998 (PA)
A Parole Board panel decided 59-year-old Whomes – who still protests his innocence – was suitable for release.
One of the men convicted of the “Essex Boys” gangland murders can be freed from prison, the Parole Board has said.
Jack Whomes was jailed for life in 1998 alongside Michael Steele for the murders of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate, and Craig Rolfe.
The three men were found shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon, near Chelmsford, Essex, in 1995.
The killings took place after a row over a drug deal, prosecutors said, and the case later inspired the 2000 film Essex Boys starring Sean Bean.
Jack Whomes was handed a life sentence in 1998 (PA)
A Parole Board panel decided 59-year-old Whomes – who still protests his innocence – was suitable for release.
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Whomes will have to follow strict licence conditions which ban him from visiting the relatives of the victims and will have to inform the authorities of any driving he does, Essex News and Investigations reports.
He will also have to report to his probation officer for meetings.
Patrick Tate, 37, Anthony Tucker, 38, and Craig Rolfe, 26, were killed with a pump-action shotgun after their vehicle was ambushed in December 1995.
Tate sustained injuries to the head and body, while Rolfe and Tucker died from head wounds.
All three of the victims were discovered in the vehicle by two farmers, Peter Theobald and Ken Jiggins, the next morning.