30/08/07 - It’s lock shock!
By NICOLA FENN
Crime reporter
Echo

THE brother of convicted killer Jack Whomes has criticised film-makers for “milking” the Rettendon murders. Rise of the Footsoldier is based on the life of gangster Carlton Leech, but climaxes in a gruesome portrayal of the infamous triple murder of Pat Tate, Tony Tucker and Craig Rolfe, at Rettendon – otherwise known as the Essex Boys murders.

Also featured in the film is Jack Whomes, 43, and Michael Steele, 64, who are serving life sentences for the deaths, despite always maintaining their innocence. But John Whomes, who has campaigned tirelessly for his brother’s release, said he pleaded with actor and executive producer, Billy Murray, not to use Whomes and Steele’s names in the film.

He said: “When I first heard about the film coming out, I rang him because I wasn’t too happy they were using my brother’s name. “I asked them to change the names and they haven’t because they wanted to milk the situation. “But as we haven’t got an appeal going I was in no position to stop the film. “Since then, I’ve had nothing to do with it.”

In the film, Leech is seen making calls to Tucker’s mobile as he lays on a mortuary slab, but Mr Whomes said there was no record of those calls. He said: “The whole film is meant to be about Carlton Leech and his friendship with Tucker, Tate and Rolfe.

“But if Carlton was such a good mate he would have given evidence at the Old Bailey, and there would be records of the phone calls he made to Tucker’s mobile. “We had threats at the Old Bailey from different people. We heard rumours of people who weren’t happy their mates had been shot – but Carlton Leech wasn’t one of them.”

Mr Whomes has also claimed new evidence will bring the case back before the Court of Appeal and make a mockery of the justice system. He said: “I can’t comment further, except to say it will rock the criminal justice system, it will rock Essex Police, it will rock the prosecution service and it will rock the top judges in this country.

“I hope to God we get back into court quickly, so when this film comes out no one goes to see it because it’s proved to be wrong. “I will watch it at some stage, but I wouldn’t pay to go and see it.”