The father of Ecstasy victim Leah Betts has slammed the hit film Essex Boys and urged cinemagoers to boycott the movie.

Anti-drugs campaigner Paul Betts said yesterday (Monday) that the film glamorised drug-taking and glorified the dealers he holds responsible for his daughter's death.

He spoke out as it was revealed the film had become the hottest movie of the summer so far - with cinemas across south Essex reporting full houses over the weekend.

Much of the film, starring Sean Bean and Alex Kingston, was shot in Southend. It is loosely based on the infamous shootings of Pat Tate, Craig Rolfe and Tony Tucker in November 1995 in a country lane in Rettendon.

Mr Betts says the death of his daughter, which exposed the extent of drugs dealing in Essex, was also an inspiration for the film.

Mr Betts will not be going to see it and is urging others not to either.

He said: "It's another one of these blood, snot and guts films that really worries me.

"Violence among young men is escalating - you've only got to look at what happened during the European Championships to see that."

Mr Betts is angry at Sean Bean's portrayal of a drug dealer in the movie. "To young people a drug dealer is a glamourous person. If that is what they believe then it's difficult for them not to say I want to be a drug dealer too."

Mr Betts said he had not been consulted at any stage of the production, despite the fact the movie is said to be inspired by the events leading up to his daughter's death.

Leah, 18, from Latchingdon, died in 1995 after taking Ecstasy bought at Basildon nightclub Raquel's.

The film features a girl who dies as a result of drug-taking - and Mr Betts is anxious audiences don't believe it is based on his daughter.

Former policeman Mr Betts, who now teaches, runs the Leah Betts Helpline Action for Drugs Awareness and tours schools giving talks to youngsters about the dangers of drugs.

He slams former Raquel's doorman Mr Bernard Mahonay, whose book, also called Essex Boys, deals with the Rettendon killings.

Mr Betts claimed the book was the inspiration for the film and was furious at the planned use of an infamous picture of Leah on a life support machine on the cover.

Mr Betts, who owns the copyright of the picture, eventually forced the publishers to remove it.

Mr Mahoney denied the film was inspired by his book. He added: "I think before Mr Betts criticises he should at least watch the film."

Urging boycott - Paul Betts

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