'Essex Boys' murderer's release from prison blocked by Justice Secretary
Michael Steele was convicted of shooting three people dead in 1995, and was due to be released after the parole board determined he was no longer a risk to the public last month
One of the 'Essex Boys' murderers has had his release from prison blocked by the Justice Secretary.
Michael Steele was jailed for life in 1998 for the killings of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe, which he denied, alongside co-defendant Jack Whomes.
The three men were found shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon, near Chelmsford, 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.
Steele was due to be released after the parole board determined he was no longer a risk to the public last month.
Now, an application for reconsideration has been received from the Secretary of State for Justice in the case of Michael Steele and will be considered as soon as possible.
A Parole Board member will review the decision and the details of the case, and will then decide whether the decision should be reconsidered.
If the application is granted, the case will be sent for another parole review, which the Parole Board tell us will be 'arranged as a priority.'
If the application is refused the member will provide published written reasons for why the decision was not reconsidered.