Family's fury as M25 road rage killer Kenneth Noye, 71, is told he WILL be freed from prison after Parole Board praises his 'maturity', 'clear life goals' and 'ability to control his emotions'

  • Kenneth Noye stabbed Stephen Cameron to death on the M25 in 1996
  • The notorious former gangster was on licence from prison at the time
  • He has served 20 years for the killing, but will be released in the coming weeks
  • Victim's family have slammed the decision to free, saying he should die in jail 

Notorious road rage killer Kenneth Noye is to be released from prison, after a parole board praised his 'improved victim awareness', 'clear life goals' and 'ability to control his emotions'.

The former gangster, 71, has served nearly 20 years for the vicious stabbing of Stephen Cameron, 21, on an M25 slip road near Swanley, Kent, in 1996.

The cold-blooded murder took place in front of Mr Cameron's 17-year-old fiancée Danielle Cable while Noye was out on licence from a previous prison term.

The Parole Board today confirmed his release from an open jail has been approved after it ruled he is no longer a 'significant risk to the public'.

Despite his history of violence stretching back decades, the parole panel said they were impressed by the killer's 'decision-making', 'maturity about his situation' and 'insight into his past behaviour'.

Kenneth Noye, pictured last year outside an open prison, is to be released from jail

Kenneth Noye, pictured last year outside an open prison, is to be released from jail

Noye stabbed 21-year-old Stephen Cameron (pictured) to death on a slip road to the M25 in Swanley, Kent, in 1996
Noye (pictured after his eventual arrest) then went on the run in Spain

Noye stabbed 21-year-old Stephen Cameron (left) to death on a slip road to the M25 in Swanley, Kent, in 1996. Noye then went on the run in Spain

The decision means Noye will walk free from Standford Hill open prison in Kent in the next few weeks. 

The victim's father Ken Cameron, 72, said Noye should die behind bars. 

Reacting to the decision today, he said: 'I'm totally devastated. I can't believe they have made this decision. Life should mean life.

'I hoped this day would never come. I sort of knew it was coming, though - I was almost resigned to it. But it is still a complete kick in the teeth. 

'He is going back on the streets when he should spend the rest of his days behind bars.

'Stephen was denied a life by Noye on May 19, 1996 when he left him lying in the gutter. And we are the ones who have had to live a life sentence. There isn't a day we don't think of Stephen.'

Mr Cameron added: 'He can now go and live the rest of his life as a free man while our family still grieve for Stephen every day. 

'I'm sure he'll head off to a nice little bolt hole in Spain somewhere and live the good life.'

Mr Cameron's parents Ken and Toni outside court in 2000. Mrs Cameron has since sadly died

Mr Cameron's parents Ken and Toni outside court in 2000. Mrs Cameron has since sadly died

Former career criminal Noye, once acquitted of murdering a policeman after claiming self-defence, has been at Standford Hill open prison in Kent for the past 18 months - just 30 miles from his victim's father.

When talking about the parole board decision, Ken said: 'This is a joke. It's nonsense.

'Noye has always been a nasty and violent man all his life and some courses and programmes in prison are not going to change that.

'He says what they want to hear and he does what they want to see.

'He would have made out he is a good boy to them. But he will walk out of that prison and pick up from where he left off.

'He's pulled the wool over their eyes and now he is being released.

'He's never going to change. He's an evil man.'

Justifying the decision to release him today, a spokesman for the parole board said:  'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Kenneth Noye following an oral hearing.

'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether someone would represent a significant risk to the public after release. 

'The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change. We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.' 

In 1985, Noye stabbed to death Detective Constable John Fordham in the grounds of Kent mansion. He was cleared of murder.

But the following year he was jailed for 14 years for handling gold bullion stolen in the infamous 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery. Twice refused parole, he was freed in 1994.

Noye pictured in custody in the UK after his arrest in Spain over the M25 murder

Noye pictured in custody in the UK after his arrest in Spain over the M25 murder

After the 1996 M25 attack, Noye fled, arranged for the Land Rover he was driving to be disposed of, and flew to Spain where he lived under a false name until his arrest in 1998.

When he was convicted of murder in 2000, he was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years.

Ex-Flying Squad head Barry Phillips said last week: 'If people look at what Noye has done in his life, and the trail of death and human misery he has left behind him, they will perhaps conclude he should stay behind bars for the rest of his natural.'

'He's demonstrated maturity about his situation': The parole board's full decision on why Noye can go free

A summary of the parole decision states: 'Evidence was presented at the hearing regarding Mr Noye's successful completion of accredited programmes when detained in closed prison conditions, earlier in his sentence. 

'These had addressed decision-making, better ways of thinking and considering consequences, and a tendency to use violence in certain conditions.

'He had also completed a training course focused on improved victim awareness and, shortly before being transferred to open conditions, he had participated in a more advanced programme dealing with strategies to avoid use of violence.

Noye, pictured at the time
Noye, in the disguise in which he fled to Spain

Noye, pictured at the time, and, right, in the disguise in which he fled to Spain

'The panel heard how well Mr Noye had demonstrated application of relevant skills and learning while in custody. 

'Witnesses described his good conduct and compliance in prison and charted the progress he had made during this sentence. He had worked positively with officials dealing with his case and had demonstrated maturity about his situation, as well as greater insight into his past behaviour. 

'He had demonstrated an ability to deal appropriately with potentially violent situations in prison and was clearly well motivated to avoid further offending in the community.

'The professional witnesses were all of the view that Mr Noye had addressed his risk factors appropriately and had reduced his risk to the public to a level at which, with a robust risk management plan in place, it would be manageable safely in the community. 

'The panel noted a number of protective factors (i.e. factors likely to reduce risk) including Mr Noye's current proven ability to control his emotions, his clear life goals, his relationships, and his proven ability to work with professionals and accept advice when it is needed.

'The panel carefully examined the release and risk management plan provided by Mr Noye's probation officer and weighed its proposals against assessed risks. 

'The plan included a requirement to reside at a designated address and very close monitoring of Mr Noye's situation and behaviour, including strict limitations on his contacts, movements and activities. 

'The panel was satisfied that this plan was sufficiently robust to enable Mr Noye's risk to be managed safely in the community.

'The panel said it was satisfied Noye met the tests for release and was suitable for return in the community.'

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Gangster jailed over Brinks Mat gold killed months after his release

Kenneth Noye, born in Bexleyheath, South London, had dabbled in crime while still at school, running a protection racket and stealing money from his local Woolworth's.

Aged 19, he was sent to Borstal for receiving stolen goods. 

He spent his 20s immersed in the underworld and was later convicted of theft, handling stolen goods, importing a firearm and fraudulently evading VAT - but was given only a suspended sentence.

Detective Constable John Fordham was murdered in January 1985

Detective Constable John Fordham was murdered in January 1985

He first came to public attention in the 1980s when he was charged with the murder of Scotland Yard detective John Fordham. 

DC Fordham was hiding in the grounds of Noye's Kent mansion in a surveillance operation by officers investigating the £26million Brink's-Mat bullion robbery in 1983, in which a gang stole gold, diamonds and cash.

Despite knifing the policeman ten times, Noye told his 1985 trial he had acted in self-defence. 

The Daily Mail front page after Noye was jailed for life 19 years ago

The Daily Mail front page after Noye was jailed for life 19 years ago

He claimed he heard his dogs barking, went outside carrying a knife and only acted in 'panic and fear' after he was hit on the head. The jury cleared him of murder.

The following year, he was convicted of handling Brink's-Mat gold and jailed for 14 years. The court heard Noye melted the gold down to sell it.

In 1995, a year after his release, Noye agreed to return £3million believed to be part of the proceeds of the raid. 

Loss adjusters traced the money to bank accounts in Britain and Ireland.

The next year he was involved in the road rage killing of Stephen Cameron on an M25 slip road near Swanley, Kent.

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