??/??/?? - Court hears detectives 'over-zealous'

DETECTIVES rammed a triple murder suspect's vehicle, only narrowly avoiding a fatal accident, a court heard. The incident happened last May as detectives arrived at the home of Michael Steele in St Mary's Road, Great Bentley, Essex, to arrest him for the murders of three drug barons.

An Old Bailey jury was told police officers deliberately drove their car into the vehicle which contained 54-year-old Steele and his common-law-wife Jackie Street. Miss Street, who was also arrested, was then allegedly detained in 'squalid conditions' for two days at Colchester police station despite suffering from cancer.

Steele and 36-year-old Jack Whomes are charged with murdering drug barons Pat Tate, 37, Tony Tucker, 38, and 26-year-old Craig Rolfe. The trio were lured to remote Workhouse Lane in Rettendon on the promise of a large cocaine deal unaware an ambush had been laid.

Tate, of Gordon Road, Basildon, Tucker of High Road, Fobbing, and Rolfe of Calshot Avenue, Chafford Hundred, were then blasted to death with a shotgun as they sat in their blue Range Rover. Both Steele and Whomes of Main Road, Brockford, Suffolk, deny the charges.

Steele alleged the detectives had been "over-zealous" in a written statement that was read to the court. He claimed two detectives had "driven in a malicious manner" which could have resulted in serious Injury or even the death of the defendant and his partner of 25 years.

And when she was finally released two days later Miss Street returned home to find the couple's house had been allegedly "abused and damaged by police". Steele also claims that money, loaned to him by a relative, was taken from the home. Miss Street's vehicle was also seized by police.

In the statement Steele added: "She had been maliciously penalised by over-zealous police officers. "She is now unable to perform normal, daytime duties - she has no-one to turn to." The trial continues.