Essex Boys murders: Suffolk brother on footprint image

Jack Whomes, of Brockford, served more than 20 years behind bars after being convicted of the triple shooting of Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe in Rettendon in December 1995.

Whomes, now 62, was jailed alongside Michael Steele after being found guilty of murder – but has always protested his innocence.

The former mechanic was initially arrested at his place of work in Barham, near Ipswich.

Essex Police has long maintained the guilty verdicts were correct and said no evidence has emerged that would cast doubt on the convictions.

Whomes' brother, John, believes scene pictures from the snowy country lane where the victims were found dead suggest his brother cannot have been the killer.

John Whomes, pictured in 2006 (Image: Newsquest)

The images of footprints, which were analysed by private investigation firm TM Eye, indicate the gunman was wearing Reebok trainers.

But John Whomes has insisted this is contrary to the evidence given by police informer Darren Nicholls, who had claimed the killers were wearing Wellington boots at the time.

He said this evidence could be put before the Criminal Cases Review Commission in a bid to overturn the guilty verdicts.

The analysis of the images has only come to light in the last week.

TM Eye believes the pictures support the testimony of Billy Jasper, a criminal who claimed to police that he was the getaway driver for the real attacker – who was wearing Reebok trainers.

A police picture from the scene in December 1995 (Image: Police)

Dave McKelvey, a former Detective Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police and now of TM Eye, said: "We have looked in-depth at the photographs and everyone missed this completely.

"They clearly show a trainer footprint in the snow, which we have matched to a Reebok trainer. 

"This is key as it supports the testimony from Billy Jasper.

"But this is just one of a number of pieces of new evidence. It is, in our opinion, considerable."

Jack Whomes was released from prison in 2021 and returned to live in Suffolk.

The case inspired the 2000 film Essex Boys and was the focus of a Sky documentary last year, titled The Essex Murders.

Jack Whomes has always maintained his innocence (Image: Newsquest)

John Whomes said: "It seems like something that has been hidden from us. It's brilliant that TM Eye is still looking into this case.

"There's a lot of momentum with our legal team – I imagine they will be talking a lot about this.

"It's a major thing for us. I've spoken to Jack today, and he said 'how much more will have to come out?'

"I have fought this case for 25 years and this is another mind-blowing bit of evidence. We hope it is put before the CCRC."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "There has been an exhaustive police investigation into the murders of Pat Tate, Tony Tucker and Craig Rolfe in Rettendon on December 6, 1995, which resulted in the conviction of Michael Steele and Jack Whomes for their murder.

"Since then, this case has been back before the Court of Appeal twice, in 1999 and 2006.

"These appeals have included focus upon key evidential aspects of the case. Both appeals were rejected and in 2006 Lord Justice Kay commented that there was no “element of unsafety” relating to the original convictions of both defendants.

"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.

"This case has been exhaustively examined over the last 27 years, with no fresh evidence identified which would call the original verdicts into question.

"We will of course always work with the CCRC and keep any new information under review."