Were the Essex 'Range Rover murders' REVENGE for Leah Betts? Crime boss was secretly recorded offering to kill the dealers who supplied Ecstasy to teenager who died after taking the drug on her 18th birthday
- Leah Betts died in 1995 after taking an ecstasy pill on her 18th birthday
- A crime boss was caught by police bugging offering to murder the dealers
- Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe, had controlled supply of ecstasy in nightclub where tablet was bought and were found murdered after Leah died
- New evidence expected to form part of legal bids by Michael Steele and Jack Whome who were jailed for the murders in 1998 and claim they are innocent
A crime boss was caught on tape offering to murder the drug dealers who sold the ecstasy pill that led to the death of teenager Leah Betts.
Three weeks after the recording was made Anthony Tucker, 38, Patrick Tate, 37 and Craig Rolfe, 26, who had controlled the supply of ecstasy in the Basildon nightclub where the tablet was bought, were murdered.
The crime lord's proposition to a retired detective, who was suspected of corruption, was revealed during a Scotland Yard bugging operation, reports the Sunday Mirror.
![A crime boss was caught on tape during a MET bugging operation offering to murder the drug dealers who sold the ecstasy pill that led to the death of teenager Leah Betts. Leah's family released a photograph of her in a coma (pictured) to show the dangers of illegal drugs](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219153032/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/19/12/00008BFF00000258-4239398-image-a-34_1487508718531.jpg)
A crime boss was caught on tape during a MET bugging operation offering to murder the drug dealers who sold the ecstasy pill that led to the death of teenager Leah Betts. Leah's family released a photograph of her in a coma (pictured) to show the dangers of illegal drugs
![Three weeks after the recording was made Patrick Tate (pictured), Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe, who had controlled the supply of ecstasy in the Basildon nightclub where the tablet was bought, were murdered](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219153032/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/19/12/03CCE4980000044D-4239398-Patrick_Tate-m-42_1487508774595.jpg)
![Pictured: Anothony Tucker. The crime lord's proposition to a retired detective, who was suspected of corruption, was revealed during a Scotland Yard bugging operation](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219153032/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/19/12/03CCE4980000044D-4239398-image-a-43_1487508786993.jpg)
![On December 7, Tucker, Tate and Rolfe (pictured) were found dead in a Range Rover on a down a small farm track near Rettendon](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219153032/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/19/12/03CCE4980000044D-4239398-image-m-45_1487508792038.jpg)
Three weeks after the recording was made Patrick Tate (left), Anthony Tucker (centre) and Craig Rolfe (right), who had controlled the supply of ecstasy in the Basildon nightclub where the tablet was bought, were murdered
In a meeting on November 16, 1995, the day Leah died, he told the officer he could 'take out' the drug suppliers.
On December 7, Tucker, Tate and Rolfe were found shot dead in a Range Rover down a small farm track near Rettendon.
Leah collapsed on November 1, 1995 during her 18th birthday party after taking an ecstasy tablet. She died 15 days later in hospital.
Her death was thought to have been caused by a contaminated batch of drugs but an autopsy found she had consumed 12 pints of water, which caused swelling on the brain.
Paul Betts, Leah's father, who was a retired police officer, released a photograph of her in a coma to show the dangers of illegal drugs. The case sparked national outcry and led to a police crackdown.
![Tucker, Tate and Rolfe were found shot dead in a Range Rover (pictured) down a small farm track near Rettendon](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219153032/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/19/13/0009134000000258-4239398-image-a-53_1487510981199.jpg)
Tucker, Tate and Rolfe were found shot dead in a Range Rover (pictured) down a small farm track near Rettendon
![Leah (pictured) collapsed on November 1, 1995 during her 18th birthday party after taking an ecstasy tablet and died 15 days later in hospital](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219153032/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/19/12/0001F68D00000258-4239398-image-a-49_1487509160787.jpg)
Leah (pictured) collapsed on November 1, 1995 during her 18th birthday party after taking an ecstasy tablet and died 15 days later in hospital
The revelations that the 'Range Rover murders' and the death of Leah Betts may be connected appeared in a secret 2002 Scotland Yard draft intelligence report called 'Operation Tiberius'.
The report is said to claim that organised criminals infiltrated the Met 'at will'.
An extract of the report, seen by the Sunday Mirror, reads: 'On 16th November 1995 [ex-officer named]… met [crime lord named] who offered the hand of friendship, by offering to take out the supplier of the drugs to Leah Betts, who died of an overdose.'
![The report is now expected to form part of legal bid by Michael Steele (pictured) and Jack Whomes, who were jailed for the three murders in 1998](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219153032/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/19/12/3D69341600000578-4239398-image-m-48_1487509091286.jpg)
The report is now expected to form part of legal bid by Michael Steele (pictured) and Jack Whomes, who were jailed for the three murders in 1998
The report is now expected to form part of legal bid by Michael Steele, 74, and Jack Whomes, 55, who were jailed for the three murders in 1998.
Steele and Whomes have always maintained their innocence. They were convicted in January 1998 based on evidence from supergrass and convicted fraudster Darren Nicholls who claimed he had been the getaway driver.
Steele and Whomes' claimed he had made up the story and the investigation was criticised when it emerged officers spent 30 hours in Nicholls' cell questioning him without recording.
Convicted criminal Billy Jasper also addmitted he was the real getaway driver and told Met detectives he was given £5,000 to drive a hitman, known only as Mr D, to the murder scene.
Last year Steele failed in his third attempt to appeal his conviction.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said it was 'not prepared' to discuss the details of Operation Tiberius as it is a 'secret document'.
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