PAT TATE was the leader of the Essex Boys who was found shot dead in the Rettendon murder.
Get to know more about the criminal life of Pat Tate.
Who was Pat Tate?
Pat Tate ran the Essex Boys gang which was involved mainly in drug deals.
He was a bodybuilder who weighed 18 stone and on the side, he was getting convicted of armed robbery and drug offences.
Former football hooligan and bouncer Bernard O'Mahoney told Birmingham Live that Tate suffered from a drug problem.
He said: "Tate had a real drug addiction.
"Look at Tate – he came out after six or seven years inside and within five months he was shot.
"Six weeks after that, he was shot dead.
"Six months he'd been out and he was shot twice.
"I'm 60 and I've never been shot.
Most read in The Sun
I feel bad for Andrew, says Ghislaine Maxwell in first prison interview
Strictly's Helen Skelton mortified as Gorka discusses 'difficult time' on air
Lucy Meck's fiance Ryan Thomas seen nuzzling married EastEnders star's neck
Love Island's Ekin-Su kisses David Sanclimenti in £4740 designer outfit
"It was obvious to everyone who knew them what was going to happen.
"I was aware of it at the time and kept my distance. It wasn't hard."
Tate was also a violent man who domestically abused his girlfriend, Sarah Saunders.
She heard him ranting about Michael Steele and so she called him to tip him about Tate's plot to end his life.
Where was Pat Tate from?
Pat Tate was from Essex.
In fact, he called his gang The Essex Boys and they had a film made about them too.
Rise of the Footsoldier focuses on The Essex Boys and the third film in the series, focuses on Pat Tate's life.
What happened to Pat Tate?
Pat Tate, 37, was found shot dead in a Range Rover on an isolated farm track in Rettendon on the morning of December 7, 1995, alongside Tony Tucker, 38, and Craig Rolfe, 26.
Michael Steele and Jack Wholmes were the ones convicted of the murders after Darren Nicholls – who was the getaway driver – gave evidence against the two.
It is believed that the murder happened over a conflict over money from an armed robbery.
This was after statements made by criminal Billy Jasper were looked at which claimed that he was the actual getaway driver and that Brink's Mat money launderer Patsy "Bolt Eyes" Clark was the one who wanted them dead.
Read More on The Sun
Brits to enjoy 17C Indian Summer and it’s set to last until Halloween
Home Bargains shoppers are loving this ‘amazing’ £8 cosy Christmas throw
Met Police DCI Dave McKelvey said, as reported by The Express: "They had the name of a major criminal, said to be behind the murders, the gunman, a credible motive and intelligence linking Tucker and money from the robbery.
"They also had the account of a man claiming to be the getaway driver, but chose to dismiss what he said because it did not fit with their theory about Wholmes and Steele."
Source: Read Full Article