M25 road rage killer Kenneth Noye set to be released from jail within weeks

M25 road rage killer Kenneth Noye is to be released from prison after the Parole Board ruled he is suitable to return to the community.

The 71-year-old is serving a life sentence for murdering 21-year-old Stephen Cameron in a road rage attack in Swanley, Kent, in 1996.

He stabbed the young man to death on a motorway slip road before going on the run and being arrested in Spain two years later.

After the Parole Board's decision was confirmed, Mr Cameron's father Ken told the BBC he was "gutted" and declined to comment to the Press Association because he "can't cope with it".

Mr Noye was jailed for a minimum term of 16 years in 2000 and first became eligible to be considered for release in April 2015.

In 2017, he was transferred to Standford Hill open prison in Kent, prompting outrage among politicians and Mr Cameron's family.

The Parole Board has now directed that Noye been released, following an oral hearing earlier this month.

He is expected to be released within weeks.

A Parole Board spokeswoman 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."

Conditions of his release will include residing at a designated address, behaving well, and reporting as required for appointments.

A three-person panel considered the case at an oral hearing on May 9.

A summary of the decision released by the board said: "The test for release on licence is whether Mr Noye's continued confinement in prison is necessary for the protection of the public.

"If not, his continued confinement would be unlawful, and the panel must direct his release on licence."

In reaching the decision, the panel considered a 439-page dossier of written evidence.

Witnesses who gave oral evidence included Noye himself, his community-based probation officer and a psychologist employed by the prison service.

The panel "identified risk factors associated with Mr Noye at the time of his offending", the summary said.

Evidence was presented regarding Noye's successful completion of accredited programmes when detained in closed prison conditions, earlier in his sentence.

Witnesses described Noye's "good conduct and compliance in prison", according to the summary.

The summary concluded: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Noye met the test for release and was suitable for return to the community."