The supergrass who nailed the Rettendon murderers considered telling police he lied to escape the constant fear of being tracked down.

Darren Nicholls, who is now living at a secret address under a new identity, went national with his story last night in a graphic BBC documentary.

The former electrician told viewers he had considered suicide to escape being traced and punished for "grassing" on his mates.

He said: "I thought if I told police I was lying, would they (killers Michael Steele and Jack Whomes) like me again?"

Nicholls, speaking today(Friday) in hiding, explained: "Micky Steele was like a father to me and I found it really difficult to betray him. But I had to tell the truth."

He added: "When I agreed to take part in the documentary I thought it was going to be about the witness protection programme and I wanted to show people that you aren't set up in luxury with millions. It's more like a handshake and directions to the dole office.

"If they had told me the programme was going to brand me a liar I obviously wouldn't have got involved.

"I would have to be some sort of complete genius to make that story up. I know some East End gangs have claimed they did the killings but that's because it gives them kudos.

"It would also boost their images to kill me."

He claimed he was particularly fearful of the Whomes family but John Whomes, who believes his brother Jack is innocent, said: "We are feeling extremely hopeful after seeing the programme.

"We finally managed to get our views across. Nicholls told his story over again but we were there with our points too at last. And it was during prime time viewing.

"The members of the jury have now seen the real Nicholls.

"In court he came across as a little boy who claimed he had been forced into being a get-away driver.

"On television the actors portrayed the real man - a cocky liar. They also heard how Nicholls had to convince his own wife he was telling the truth.

"We intend to carry on campaigning until we finally get my brother out of there. The programme has really helped us with that fight.

"Our legal team are working hard with us and we now have national newspapers on our side."

The Inside Story documentary also showed the heartache suffered by Whomes's mum Pam.

She was shown breaking down after her son was on the phone in tears from prison.

The programme very nearly didn't make it to the screen. It was originally due to be aired back in February but following a lengthy legal battle, Nicholls got it banned because he feared it would identify him.

It was finally shown after the programme makers agreed to use actors to play the supergrass and his wife.

Nicholls is still waiting for the last details of his new identity to fall into place so he can finally find work.

He has been in hiding or in custody since May 1996 when he decided to put his life on the line and give evidence for the crown.

He told an Old Bailey jury he was the unwitting getaway driver for Michael Steele, of Great Bentley, Essex, and Jack Whomes, of Brockford, Suffolk, back in December 1995.

The bodies of drug dealers Pat Tate, of Basildon, Craig Rolfe, of Chafford Hundred, and Tony Tucker, of Fobbing, were found inside a Range Rover the following morning down a snowy country track in Rettendon.

Nicholls claims the motive was that Tate had double-crossed Steele over a cannabis importation.

Steele and Whomes denied his claims but were convicted and sentenced to three life sentences each. They maintain their innocence.

Serving three life sentences - Jack Whomes

(Right) We're no threat - mum Pam Whomes

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.